
Book^SRA 



&tatf of Sljnbp Jalanb an& Prnnilif ttrt piantattnna. 

H E P O R T 

OF THE 

JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL 
EXPOSITION COMMISSION, 

MADE TO THE 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

AT ITS 

JANUARY SESSION, 1908. 



PIIOVIDENCE. H. L 

E. L. KKEKMAN COM PAN V, STATE TKINTKUS. 
1{)08. 




His Excellency James H. Higgins, Governor. 



. REPORT 

OF THE 

JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL 
EXPOSITION COMMISSION, 

MADE TO THE 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

AT ITS 

JANUARY SESSION, 1908. 



PROVIDENCE, H. I. 

E. L. FREEMAN COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS. 
1908. 



k'^' 



0. Or 0- „ 



REPORT 



To the Honorable the General Assembly: 

The report of the undersigned, constituting the Jamestown Ter- 
centennial Exposition Commission of this State, heretofore made to 
your honorable body at its last session, presented a general outline 
of the proposed line of action of the Commission, and there now re- 
mains to be set forth in more detail that which has been done in pur- 
suance of such plan. 

The work of the Commission may be considered as directed to 
the preparation and exhibition of an historical exhibit illustrative 
of the earlier history of the State — the greater part of which 
was contained in the History Building of the Exposition Com- 
pany and which, together with the cases in which it was con- 
tained, has now been installed in the State House in Providence, 
in accordance with the joint resolution of the General Assembly 
to that effect, and now remains in the custody of the Secretary of 
State; the erection and maintenance of the State Building author- 
ized by the law creating the Commission; and the exercises attend- 
ant upon the formal opening of the exposition on April 26, 1907, 
and the celebration of Rhode Island Day, September 10, 1907, on 
both of which occasions the State was officially represented by His 
Excellency the Governor and other State officials. 

THE STATE BUILDING. 

The architect of the State building was Mr. Edwin T. Banning, of 
Providence, and the contract price therefor agreed upon with the 
builders, the Hanley-Casey Company, of Chicago, who were large con- 



4 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

tractors with the Exposition Company for many of the large Ex- 
position buildings, was the sum of $10,000. The contract required 
the building to be completed by February 1, 1907, and it was ready 
before that date, being the first State building to be completed. 

The Rhode Island building was located on the water front and 
commanded an unobstructed view of the waters of Hampton Roads 
for many miles in either direction. The ground for it was broken 
on July 14, 1906, before ground was broken for any other building, 
and in the presence of a large and representative gathering of officers 
of the Exposition Company, of the army and of the navy, and repre- 
sentatives of different local societies and associations, the following 
exercises were held at that time on the site of the future building: 

An Address of Welcome to the State, by His Honor J. Taylor 
Ellyson, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. 

Delivery of Deed, by C. Brooks Johnston, Chairman of the Board 
of Governors of the Jamestown Exposition Company. 

To these addresses the following response was made by the presi- 
dent of the Rhode Island Commission: 

" Your Honor, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: 

''Before proceeding to give a more formal expression to the senti- 
ments which seem appropriate to this time and this place, it gives 
me great pleasure to express, on behalf of the Commission from 
Rhode Island, their high appreciation of the courteous words of 
welcome which have been so eloquently spoken, on behalf of the 
State of Virginia, by his honor, the lieutenant governor. 

''These words were, indeed, not needed as an assurance of welcome 
here, inasmuch as the cordial greeting everywhere extended to the 
Commission needed no demonstration or assurance; but they are 
none the less most highly valued as a peculiarly felicitous interpre- 
tation and expression, in articulate speech, of a sentiment which it 
has long since become apparent to all of our number is universally 
and everywhere entertained. 

"In accepting the indenture which you have this day dehvered, 




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JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION, O 

Mr. Chairman, it may not be inappropriate that certain brief his- 
torical references be made. 

''Three hundred years have passed since, in the year 1606, James, 
King of England, in his first charter to those who were about to 
settle on these shores, gave expression to his desire that this under- 
taking might, ' by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend 
to the Glory of his Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Re- 
ligion to such People as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance 
of the true Knowledge and Worship of God, and may, in time, bring 
the Infidels and Savages, living in those parts, to human Civility, 
and to a settled and quiet Government.' 

''Thirty years thereafter, Roger Williams, in Hke rehance upon 
Divine favor, founded the Providence Plantation, and the tablet 
which marks his first landing place thus records his words: 'And 
having of a sense of God's Merciful Providence unto me in my dis- 
tress, called the place Providence, I desired it might be a shelter for 
persons Distressed for Conscience;' — a settlement destined later, in 
the language of the royal charter of 1663, ' To hold forth a lively 
experiment that a most flourishing, civil state may stand, and best be 
maintained * * * ^^ith a full liberty in religious concernments.' 

"To those who settled here a royal charter was first granted, and 
in the Providence Plantation for one hundred and eighty years, and 
until a time still within the memory of more than three millions of 
our fellow countrymen, a royal charter longest remained in force, 
being at the time of its abrogation the oldest constitutional charter 
in the world. 

"And so we here erect this building for a memorial of that which 
God hath wrought, and with the ancient prayer 

'Sicut patribus sit Deus nobis.' " 

A spade was then presented to the President of the Commission 
by the Secretary of the Exposition Company with which the first 
sod was turned for the site of the State building and then in succes- 
sion was severally used by the other members of the Commission. 

Then followed the reading by Commissioner Hurlingame of the 
Providence Civil Compact of 1637: 



6 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

"the providence plantation civil compact of 1637. 

"We whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabitt in ye Towne of Provi- 
dence, do promise to subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all 
such orders or agreements as shall be made for publick good of ye body in an 
orderly way, by the major consent of the present inhabitants, maisters of fam- 
ilies — incorporated together in a Towne fellowship, and others whom they shall 
admitt unto them only in ciuill things." ■ 

There was then read, by Commissioner Batchelor, the following 
passage from the early colonial records, showing the settlement of 
Newport on Rhode Island, in the year 1639: 

" The Settlement of Xew^Dort on Rhode Island, 1639 
"Pocasset. On the 28th of the 2nd month, 1639. 

" It is agreed, 

*' By us whose hands are underwritten, to propagate a Plantation in the midst of 
the Island or elsewhere; And doe engage ourselves to bear equall charges, an- 
swerable to our strength and estates in common; and that our determinations 
shall be by major voice of judge and elders; the Judge to have a double voice. 

" 16th, 3rd month, 1639. 

"It is agreed and Ordered that the plantation now begun at this Southwest 
end of the Island, shall be called Newport." 

Commissioner Sheahan then read the following resolutions, adopted 
by the General Assembly of Rhode Island on September 15th, 1765, 
directing all colony officials to disregard the Stamp Act, and insuring 
them indemnity in so doing; being an enlargement upon the reso- 
utions drafted by Patrick Henry and adopted by the House of 
Burgesses of Virginia in May of that year. 

"This Assembly, taking into the most serious Consideration An act Passed 
by the Parliament of Great Brittain at their last session, for Le\'jang stamp 
dutys and other Internal Duties, in North America, do Resolve : 

"1st. That the first adventurers. Settlers of this, His Majesty's Colony, and 
Dominion of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, brought with them and 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 7 

Transmitted to their Posterity, and all other His • Majesty's subjects since in- 
habiting in this His Majesty's colony, all the Privilidges and Immunities that 
have at any time been held enjoyed and Possessed by the people of Great 
Brittain. 

" 2d. That By a Charter granted by King Charles the Second in the fifteenth 
year of his Reign, the Colony, afforesaid, is declared and entitled to all privi- 
leges and immunities of Natural born Subjects, to all Intents and Purposes, 
as if they had been abiding and born within the Realm of England. 

"3. That His Majesty's Liege People of this Colony have enjoyed the Right 
of being governed by their own Assembly, in the article of Taxes and Internal 
police ; and that the same hath never been forfeited, or any other way yielded 
up ; but hath been constantly recognized by the King and people of Brittain. 

"4th. That, Therefore, the General Assembly of -this Colony have, in their 
representative Capacity, the only Exclusive Right to lay Taxes and Imposts 
upon the Inhabitants of this Colony; and that Every Attempt to vest Such 
Power in any Person or Persons, whatever, other than the General Assembly, 
aforesaid, is unconstitutional, and hath a Manifest Tendency to Destroy the Lib- 
ertys of the People of this Colony. 

"5th. That His Majesty's Liege People, the Inhabitants of this Colony, are 
not bound to yeeild obedience to any law or ordinance Designed to Impose 
any Internal Taxation Whatsoever upon them, other than the Laws and Ordi- 
nances of the General Assembly Aforesaid. 

" 6th. That all the Officers in this Colony, appointed by the Authority thereof, 
be, and they are hereby, directed to proceed in the Execution of their respective 
offices in the Same manner as usual And that this Assembly will Indemnify and 
save harmless all the said officers, on account of their Conduct, agreeable to this 
Resolution. 

Commissioner Sheffield then read the Declaration of Independence 
of the colony of Rhode Island, passed by the General Assembly, 
May 4, 1776, being the first legislative repeal of allegiance to Great 
Britain presently taking effect. (The records of the Assembly had 
hitherto always ended with the loyal motto ''God save the King," 
but at the close of this session, the words were changed and *'God 
save the United Colonies" appears for the first time in the archives of 
the ancient colony): 



8 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

"An Act repealing an Act, entitled 'An Act for the more ef- 
fectual Securing to His Majesty the Allegiance of His Sub- 
jects, IN THIS His Colony and Dominion of Rhode-Island and 
Providence Plantations ; ' and altering the Form of Commis- 
sions, of all Writs and Processes in the Courts, and of the 
Oaths prescribed by Law. 

"Whereas in all Slates, existing by Compact, Protection and Allegiance are 
reciprocal, the latter being only due in Consequence of the former; And whereas 
George the Third, King of Britain, forgetting his dignity, regardless of the 
Compact most solemnly entered into, ratified and, confirmed, to the Inhabitants 
of this Colony, by his illustrious Ancestors, and 'til of late fully recognized 
by him — and entirely departing from the duties and Character of a good King, 
instead of Protecting, is endeavoring to destroy the good People of this Colony, 
and of all the united Colonies, by sending Fleets and Armies to America, to con- 
fiscate our property, and spread Fire, Sword and Desolation, throughout our 
Country, in order to compel us to submit to the most debasing and detestable 
Tyranny; whereby we are obliged by Necessity, and it becomes our highest Duty, 
to use every means, with which God and Xature have furnished us, in Support of 
our invaluable Rights and Privileges; to oppose that Power which is exerted 
only for our destruction. 

"Be it therefore Enacted by this General Assembly, and by the Authority 
thereof It is Enacted, That an Act intituled, 'An Act for the more effectual se- 
curing to his Majesty the Allegiance of his Subjects in this his Colony and Do" 
minion of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations,' be, and the same is hereby 
repealed. 

"AND be it further Enacted by this General Assembly, and by the Authority 
thereof it is Enacted, That in aU Commissions for Offices, Civil and Military, and 
in all Writs and Processes in Law, whether original, judicial or executory, civil or 
criminal, wherever the Name and Authority of the said King is made Use of, the 
same shall be omitted, and in the Room thereof the Name and Authority of the 
Governor and Company of this Colony shall be Substituted, in the following 
Words, to \s"it : ' The Governor and Company of the English Colony of Rhode- 
Island and Providence Plantations:' That all Such Commiissons, Writs and Pro- 
cesses, shall be otherwise of the same Form and Tenor as they heretofore were : 
That the Courts of Law be no longer entitled nor considered as the King's Courts: 
And that no Instrument in Writing, of any Xature or Kind, whether publick or 
private, shall in the Date thereof mention the Year of the said King's Reign: 
Provided, nevertheless, That nothing in this Act contained shall render void or 
vitiate any Commission, Writ, Process or Instrument, heretofore made or exe- 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 9 

cuted, on Account of the Name and Authority of the said King being therein 
inserted. 

"AND be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Oaths or 
Engagements to be administered to the Officers appointed in this Colony shall 
be as follows, to wit: 

" GENERAL OFFICERS. 



t( t 



You being by the free Vote of the Freemen of this Colony of 

Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations elected unto the Place of do 

solemnly engage to be true and faithful unto this said Colony, and in your said 
Office equal Justice to do unto all Persons, poor and rich, within this Jurisdiction,, 
to the utmost of your Skill and Ability, without Partiality, according to the Laws 
established, or that may be established, by the General Assembly of this Colony,, 
as well in Matters military as civil: And this Engagement you make and give 
upon the Peril of the Penalty of Perjury." 

"deputies. 

" * You being chosen to the Place of a Deputy, to sit in the General 

Assembly, do solemnly engage, that you will be true and faithful to this Colony of 
Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations ; and that you will do equal Right and 
Justice to all Persons who shall appeal unto you for your Judgment in their re- 
spective Cases, according to the Laws established or that may be established, by 
the General Assembly of this said Colony; And this Engagement you make and 
give upon the Peril of the Penalty of Perjury," 

"judges of the superior court. 



<( t 



You being by the General Assembly of this Colony chosen to the 

Place of a Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize, and General 
Gaol Delivery, in and throughout the Colony, do solemnly engage to be true and 
faithful to this said Colony, and to execute the Office unto which you are chosen 
as aforesaid with fidelity, to the best of your Skill and Knowledge, according to 
the Laws established, or that may be established, by the General Assembly of 
this said Colony: and this Engagement you make and give upon the Peril of the 
Penalty of Perjury.' 

"(Public Notaries, Clerks of the Superior and Inferior Courts, Justices of the 
Inferior Courts, and Sheriffs, to take the same Oaths as the Justices of the Su- 
perior Court, mutatis mutandis.) 
2 



10 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

*' GRAND JURORS. 

" ' You A. B. being of the Grand Inquest, on the Behalf of the Governor and 
Company of the EngHsh Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, 
do hereby promise and engage to make a true Return to this Court of all such 
Bills as shall be presented to you, or such Breakers of Law as shall come to your 
Knowledge: And this Engagement you make and give upon the Peril of the 
Penalty of Perjurj'.' 

"petit jurors IX CIVIL CAUSES. 

" ' You A. B. being of this Jun." of Trials, shall well and truly trj- the Issue of 
this Case, and all Cases that shall be committed unto you from this Court, between 
the Parties. Plaintiff and Defendant, according to Law and E\idence: and to 
keep together until you agree of a Verdict in the Case or Cases committed to you, 
and make true Return of the Verdict or Verdicts imto this Court ; and to keep 
your own and Fellow's Secrets: And this Engagement you make and give upon 
the Peril of the Penalty of Perjury.' 

a pj-jj^ JURORS IX CRTNIIXAL CAUSES. 

" ' You A. B. being of this Jun>' of Trials, shall well and truly tni*. and true 
Deliverance make, between the Governor and Company of the English Colony of 
Rhode-Island and Pro^■idence Plantations, and the Prisoner at the Bar, according 
to Law and E^'idence ; and to keep together until you are agreed of a Verdict 
or Verdicts, in the Case or Cases that shall be committed to you from this Court, 
and to keep your own and Fellows Secrets : And this Engagement you make and 
give upon the Peril of the Penalty of Perjury.' 

" TO'^'X OFFICERS. 

" ' You A. B. do hereby solemnly engage to be true and faithful unto this 
Colony of Rhode-Island and Pro%-idence Plantations, and that you will well and 
truly, according to the Laws established, or that may be established by the Gen- 
eral Assembly of said Colony, execute the Office of for the ensuing 
Year or until another be engaged in your Room, or you be legally discharged 
therefrom: And this Engagement you make and give upon the Peril of the Pen- 
alty of Perjurj'.' 

" MILITARY COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

" ' You A. B. being by the General Assembly chosen and elected imto the Place 
and Office of do solemnly swear to be true and faithful imto this Colony 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 11 

of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, and to the Authority therein es- 
tablished by the General Assembly: And you do also further engage well and 
truly to execute the Office of to which you are elected according to 

your Commission: and to perform and observe all the Laws made and provided for 
the Support and well ordering the Militia, without Partiality; and that you 
will observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to 
Time receive from your Superiors. 

" So help you God.' 

" CLERK OF A COMPANY OF MILITIA. 

" ' You A. B. do solemnly swear well and truly to perform and execute the 
Office of Clerk of the Company, or Trained Band, under the Command of C. D. 
to the utmost of your Skill and Ability, without Partiality, according to the Laws 
of this Colony which relate to your office. 

" So help you God.' " 

The exercises were concluded by the raising of the State flag upon 
the site of the State building. 

Within the State building, when completed, there were exhibited 
photographic reproductions of certain historical documents and por- 
traits, and reproductions of ancient flags and standards, as follows: 

King Charles II, grantor of the royal charter of 1663 to the 
colony of Rhode Island — from the portrait from life in possession 
of Brown University; surmounted by the royal standard of the 
House of Stuart of that date. 

Catherine of Braganza, Queen of Charles II, from a portrait from 
life in possession of Brown University; surmounted b}^ the royal 
standard of the House of Braganza of that date, the design being 
furnished by the State Department of the Portuguese Government. 

The Royal Charter granted to Rhode Island in 1663, from the 
Patent Roll in the British State Paper Office — London — surmounted 
by the flag prescribed for Rhode Island and the other New England 
colonies during the regime of Sir Edmund Andros, the design being 
obtained from a copy of the flag in colors in the John Carter Brown 
library in Providence. 

The Gaspee Commission, from the original in the otlico of the 



12 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Secretary of State, Providence, — surmounted by the St. George's 
Cross, the first EngUsh flag raised in Rhode Island. 

General Nathanael Greene, of Rhode Island, from a mezzotint 
made in 1783 and in the possession of Mr. Edward I. Xickerson, of 
Providence, — surmounted by the flag carried by the Rhode Island 
troops in the Revolution. 

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, of Rhode Island, in command 
at Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813: ''We have met the 
enemy and they are ours." From a portrait in possession of Brown 
University, — surmounted by the colors displayed by Commodore 
Perry at the Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, and containing 
Lawrence's historic appeal ''Don't Give L^p The Ship." 

Admiral Esek Hopkins, of Rhode Island, first Commander-in-Chief 
of the Continental Xav}^, from portrait in possession of Brown 
University, — surmounted by the famous rattlesnake flag, with its 
motto, "Don't Tread On Me"; design furnished by ancient repro- 
duction in possession of Rhode Island Historical Society. 

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, of Rhode Island, in command 
at Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813 — "We have met the 
enemy and they are ours" — from a portrait in possession of Rhode 
Island Historical Society, — surmounted by the colors displayed by 
Commodore Matthew C. Perry on his entrance to Japan. 

Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, surmounted 
by the national colors. 

His Excellency James H. Higgins, Governor, surmounted by the 
State colors. 

The State Capitol in Providence. 

Major General Nathanael Greene, — original by the artist Charles 
Peele in possession of William Brenton Greene, Jr. 

These historical exhibits attracted many visitors from other States 
than Rhode Island and were examined with great interest, the num- 
ber of visitors at the Rhode Island building occasionally mounting 
into the thousands and averaging several hundred daily. During 
the greater portion of the period of the exposition different members 
of the Commission were in residence at the building, as was the case 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 13 

in other State buildings. Upon the return of the President of the 
Commission, early in October, Mrs. Richard Jackson Barker, of 
Tiverton, was selected as hostess, and efficiently discharged all the 
duties of hostess until the close of the exposition on November 30th, 
1907. 

The building, after some delay owing to certain legal complications 
as to land titles and encumbrances, was finally sold for the sum of 
$2,000.00, the final installment of that amount being paid on March 
16th, 1908. The furnishings were returned to Providence and there 
sold for the sum of $735.81, and the proceeds of the sale of the build- 
ing and of the furnishings have been paid into the State treasury. 

EXERCISES AT THE OPENING OF THE EXPOSITION BY THE PRESI- 
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ON APRIL 26, 1907. 

In response to the invitation of the Exposition Company, this 
State was officially represented at the opening of the exposition by 
the President of the United States, on April 26, 1907, the official 
party being composed a^ follows: 

OFFICIAL STATE PARTY TO JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION, OPEN- 
ING DAY, APRIL 26, 1907. 

His Excellency James H. Higgins, Governor. 
Attorney General, William B. Greenough. 

' Governor's Personal Staff. 

Col. Attmore A. Tucker, South Kingstown. 

Col. James A. Ryan, Lincoln. 

Col. J. Fulgence Archambault, Warwick. 

Col. Harvey A. Baker, Providence. 

Col. James P. Murphy, Pawtucket. 

Col. Irving O. Hunt, Providence. 

Governor's General Staff. 

Brig. Gen. Frederic M, Sackett, Providence. 
Brig. Gen. W. Howard Walker, Providence 
Brig. Gen. Walter R. Stiness, Warwick. 



14 



JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 



Brig. Gen. George H. Kenyon. Providence. 
Col. John H. Wetherell. Newport. 
Lieut, Col. Lester S. Hill. Pro\-idence. 

The Justices of the Supreme Court. 

Chief Justice WiUiam W. Douglas, ProA-idence. 
Mr. Justice Edward C. Dubois, East P^o^-idence. 
Mr. Justice Clarke H. Johnson, Foster. 
Mr. Justice C. Frank Parkhurst, P^o^'idence. 

Members of the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition Commission of Rhode 

Island. 

John Taggard Blodgett. Pro%*idence. 
William P. Sheflaeld, Newport. 
Joseph P. Burlingame, Warwick. 
George Batchelor. Woonsocket. 
Dennis H. Sheahan. Providence. 



Brig. Gen. Herbert S. Tanner. Providence. 

Hon. Roswell B. Burchard. Speaker, Little Compton. 

Zenas W. Bliss. Cranston. 

Arthur S. Burhngame, "Warwick. 

Clarence S. Brigham, Providence. 
Mesdames Edward C. Dubois. John Taggard Blodgett, Clarke H. Johnson, C. 
Frank Parkhurst. Walter R. Stiness. Nathaniel W. Smith, William P. Sheffield, 
Joseph P. Burlingame. George Batchelor, Dennis H. Sheahan, Roswell B. Bur- 
chard, Zenas W. Bhss. Miss Leah F. Parkhurst, Miss Margaret Sheffield, Miss 
Ruth J. Batchelor, Miss Annie B. Pierce. 

Representatives of the Press. 

Edward P. Tobie. Providence Journal, Providence. 
H. Ladd Walford. Providence Tribune, Providence. 
Archibald G. Adams, Pawtucket Times, Pawtucket. 

The party arrived at their destination on the morning of April 
25th, and were quartered at the Pine Beach Hotel, a short distance 
outside of the grounds. In the evening of that day the Rhode Island 
delegation attended a reception at the Virginia State builcUng, given 
by the Governor of Virginia. His Excellency Ciovernor Higgins being 



JAMESTOWN" TER-CENTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 15 

• 

of the receiving party. On the following day seats were provided 
for the party by the Exposition Company on the same stand from 
which President Roosevelt delivered the opening address, in the 
presence of a large number of the diplomatic, military, and naval 
representatives of foreign nations, governors and official representa- 
tives of other States, as well as of a great concourse of other visitors, 
the Rhode Island box being on the right of the box occupied by the 
Governor of Virginia and adjacent to it. At the conclusion of the 
address there followed a review of United States soldiers and sailors, 
after which the President held a reception in the Auditorium Build- 
ing. A ball in the evening and illumination of the grounds and 
buildings and of the ships of foreign nations and of the United States 
concluded the celebration of the day. 

On the following day the Rhode Island party proceeded by steamer 
up the James river to Jamestown and inspected all that now remains 
visible of the settlement there made in 1607. Thence the party pro- 
ceeded by carriages to Williamsburg, the ancient capital of the colony, 
and visited Bruton Parish Church and other objects of interest there. 

On Monday, the 29th of April, His Excellency the Governor, ac- 
companied by the full personal and general staff, and the other 
members of the party made an official call upon Rear Admiral Robley 
D. Evans, commanding the North Atlantic fleet, then lying in 
Hampton Roads. The party was received by the Admiral on board 
the flagship ^^Connecticut" in due form, and upon departure the sides 
were manned, and a salute of seventeen guns was fired. Proceeding 
then to the battleship ''Rhode Island," His Excellency the Governor 
and the members of the party were received by Captain Bowman, then 
in command, in like due form. Here there was presented to the 
captain and officers of the ship a photographic reproduction of the 
deed of ''the great island of Acquidneck" (Rhode Island) to "Mr. 
Coddington and his friends" for "forty fathoms of white beades," 
dated March 24, 1637, and signed by the Sachems of the Narragnn- 
setts, Canonicus and Miantonomi, and witnessed by Roger Williams. 
This deed marks the termination of Indian occupation and the be- 



16 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

ginning of English occupation of the territory therein described. 
The presentation was made on behalf of the Commission by Com- 
missioner Sheffield, of Newport, himself a resident of the very tract 
of land conveyed thereby. After a brief introduction by His Excel- 
lency the Governor, Commissioner Sheffield spoke as follows: 

'' Capt. Bowman: — It is a pleasing task that the Governor has dele- 
gated to me. I present to you, on behalf of the Rhode Island Ter- 
centennial Commission, to be kept in an appropriate place on the 
battleship named after our honored State, a fac-simile reproduction 
of the original record of the deed of the Island of Rhode Island from 
the Narragansett Indians to the first English settlers thereof. 

" On its face this deed represents a transfer of land from a tribe of 
savage Indians to a few poor whites; but studied a little in detail 
it represents in many respects a most remarkable transaction. 

''The grantors to the instrument are the chief Sachems of the Narra- 
gansett tribe, Canonicus and Miantonomi. Much has been said in 
disparagement of the character of the North American Indians, 
but nothing can be said, with justice, in derogation of the memory 
of Canonicus and Miantonomi. Roger Williams has compared 
Canonicus, the venerable head of the Narragansett tribe, to that 
respected head of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Governor John 
Winthrop, and says that when he died he was no less beloved and 
respected by the Indians and those white men that came in contact 
with him than was Governor Winthrop among his associates. Mian- 
tonomi, the generous and brave warrior, who w^as cruelly murdered, 
a victim to the jealous rivalry of his white neighbors at the 
hands of his bloody Indian foe, stands forth as the type of what 
is best in the Indian character. Nowhere on the page of American 
history does the character of the North American Indian so shine 
with the qualities of mercy, justice, courage and fair dealing, meriting 
the much abused title of the Noble Red Man, as among the Narra- 
gansett chiefs. It was the last of their line, Canonchet, who when 
captured by his enemies requested that they kill him before his 
heart became soft and he had said anything unworthy of a Narra- 
gansett chieftain. The United States acted advisedly and well 
when it named yonder two monitors, the " Canonicus " and " Mianto- 
nomi," after such men. 

" The other parties to this deed were no less remarkable. The 
grantees are William Coddington and those associated w^ith him. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 17 

They represented the best thought of the world of that day upon 
the principles of government. Among the Englishmen of the seven- 
teenth century, no one stood higher as an example of public spirit 
and had a better understanding of what orderly hberty through free 
institutions meant, than Sir Henry Yane, the associate of the foun- 
ders of Rhode Island, while at Boston. These men had been driven 
from theocratic Massachusetts to found a State with Roger Williams, 
(the witness to the deed,) upon absolute freedom in civil affairs and 
liberty of conscience unrestrained by the civil magistrate in re- 
Hgious affairs. Nowhere in the world, at that time or for a long 
while after, did any body of men or organized society understand 
more fully or set forth in actual practice more clearly the principles 
of civil and religious liberty, which have been expanded and car- 
ried forward into the constitution of the United States, than this 
exiled band of Enghsh gentlemen, the grantees in this deed. 

The transaction itself was of a character we would expect from 
the parties to it. It is always a difficult thing for a civilized nation, 
great or small, to deal with an uncivilized people in any period of 
time and in any portion of the globe. The United States is finding 
it so at the present time in its dealings with the Philippines and its 
possessions beyond the seas. These Rhode Islanders had already 
solved the problem. The only rule is absolute justice between both 
sides of the transaction. 

In other colonies, land was taken from the Indians without their 
consent. It was Roger Williams, while still at Salem, who enunciated 
the principle that King James had no more right to send his subjects 
into Massachusetts to take the land of Massasoit, than Massasoit 
had to send his subjects into Warwickshire to take the land of King 
James. This was referred to, in the charges against Williams, as 
treason to the crown. This deed was the result of a fair bargain 
and full payment of the consideration demanded. As the United 
States in the Pacific extends its dealings with the nations of the east, 
it has developed and expanded this old Rhode Island doctrine of 
fair treatment and just dealings with all nations, whether powerful or 
dependent. 

The subject of this historic transaction was the CJreat Island of 
Aquidneck, in Narragansett Bay — 'The Isle of Peace,' the Indian 
name for Rhode Island, after which this magnificent battleship is 
named, and we think it no inconsistency that this deed which we hand 
you bears the Indian name for peace. The great guns and formitl- 

3 



18 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

able armor of this splendid fighting machine make for the peace of 
the world, as the President so well set forth in his speech of the other 
day. The American navy means justice to all the world and an 
honorable peace to all nations. 

It is not presumptuous that the smallest State in the Union should 
be honored in the name of one of its most modern battleships. 

About Xarragansett Bay sprang up a breed of seafaring men. In 
colonial times the colony did not hesitate to equip and- maintain 
a public armed vessel, and they sent the 'Tartar' to the siege of 
Louisburg. About Xarragansett Bay were the beginnings of the 
struggle for independence. Other colonies later fought the British 
soldier on land, Rhode Island did not hesitate to meet the British sailor 
in his ship of war. As earl}^ as 1764 the guns of the fort on Goat 
Island, where is now the United States Torpedo Station, were turned 
upon his majesty's ship of war, and the men of the 'Libert}^' were 
seized and their boat burned in front of the old State House at New- 
port, long before Lexington and Concord; and later his majesty's 
ship 'Gaspee' was burned near Providence, which led to the issuing of 
that celebrated commission to carry Americans to England for trial, 
which so stirred the Virginia heart that it led to the organizing of the 
colonies in the struggle for liberty. 

Rhode Island early pressed in the Continental Congress for the 
establishment of a navy, and furnished Commodore Hopkins as its, 
first commander. From this Island of Aquidneck went forth the 
man, who not only built his ships but fought them at Lake Erie, and 
Oliver Hazard Perry in his celebrated victory and terse announce- 
ment of it in the words '^ We have met the enemy and they are ours," 
added new lustre to the glorious record of the American navy. 
Close has been the relation of Rhode Island at all times with this 
navy, and it is fitting that it should be recognized in the names of 
'Canonicus.' 'Miantinomi,' and ^Rhode Island.' I entrust to your 
keeping this ancient record of the beginning of the State, whose 
honored name is borne by your splendid ship." 

On Tuesday, x\pril 30th, occurred the formal dedication of the 
completed Rhode Island building in the presence of a large number 
of invited guests, including the President and officers of the Exposi- 
tion Company, officers of the army and of the navy. President Had- 
lev of Yale L^niversitv, and Commissioners from other States with 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 19 

ladies. The President of the Commission presented Governor Hig- 
gins in the following words: 
• 

We are assembled in this place to dedicate this building to the 
service of those who shall here desire to retrace the beginnings 
of English-speaking civilization in the new world. Appropriate 
in its outward design to the period it commemorates, upon its walls 
appear memorials of the earlier and the latter days of the colony 
and of the State whose name it bears. 

Beneath the royal standards of the House of Stuart and the House of 
Braganza there may be seen Charles II, King of England and grantor 
of the great charter of its liberties, together with Catherine his queen. 
There, too, appears the unique charter granted by that monarch in 
1663, and which was for 180 years the fundamental law of the colony 
and of the State, being at the time of its abrogation by the adoption 
of the present constitution of the State, in 1843, the oldest consti- 
tutional charter in the world — and there may also be seen the por- 
traits of her sons who on land and on sea have won imperishable 
renown and have shed an undying lustre on her name. The stand- 
ards of Nathanael Greene and of Oliver Hazard Perry as inevitably 
carry the mind back to the beginnings of our national existence as 
the national colors and the flag of the State remind us of him who 
is now the President of the great republic and of him who, as the 
present Chief Magistrate of the State, now honors this event by his 
presence. 

By the royal charter of 1663 it was provided that the governor of 
this colony should be chosen by the freemen of the colony — a pro- 
vision contained in but one other colonial charter. Indeed, under 
the Parliamentary patent of 1643, ever since the 3'ear 1647, under 
the title of President, and thereafter, under the royal charter of 1663 
and the present constitution of the State, under the title of Governor, 
for a period of 260 years the Chief Magistrate of Rhode Island has 
been so elected, save only during the brief period of the usurpation 
of Sir Edmund Andros, a period of election l)y such authority longer 
(with one possible exception) than that of any other colony or State. 

It gives me great pleasure to ])resent the latest Governor in this 
long succession of elective Chief Magistrates —Mis l^^xcellency .lames 
H. Higgins, Governor of the State of Rhode Island and rrovi(hMice 
Plantations. 



20 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTEXXI.\L EXPOSITIOX. 

Governor Higgins then spoke briefl}^ extending a cordial welcome 
to those present and formally declaring the building to be open for 
the purposes for which it was erected. ' 

At the completion of His Excellency's address the following his- 
torical address was delivered by the President of the Commission: 

ADDRESS OF MR. JUSTICE BLODGETT. 

On the thirteenth day of May, 1907, three hundred years will have 
elapsed since there was established at Jamestown, Virginia, the first 
permanent settlement of English-speaking people on this continent. 
While the beginnings of all the older nations are shrouded in ob- 
scurity and adorned by fable, we may trace the origin of the history of 
this nation to this spot and to this hour. 

The record of the later founding of Rhode Island is, however, 
not devoid of the legend, or of the song which imperfectly tells of 
the uncertain and shadowy past of an earlier day. The very name 
of the State transports the mind to a far distant island in a southern 
sea w^hose remote past is lost in the age of fable. We read in our 
own ancient records that "At the General Court of Elections held at 
Newport on the 13th of the first month, 1644, . . . It is 
ordered by this Court that the Ysland commonly called Aquethneck, 
shall be from henceforth called the Isle of Rhodes or Rhode Island " 
(1 R. I. Col. Rec. 127), but we know not the reason for the change, 
nor for the selection of that name rather than another equally ap- 
propriate. 

So Mr. John Fiske tells us that the Vinland of the Norsemen 
probably extended not farther south than Point Judith, and he who 
gazes upon the rude yet symmetrical stone structure still standing 
in the City by the Sea, recalls the familiar lines of the poet as he re- 
counts the nwth of the Norse warrior : 

" Three weeks we westward bore, 
And when the storm was o'er, 
Cloudlike we saw the shore 

Stretching to leeward. 
There for my lady's bower 
Built I the lofty tower, 
Which to this very hour 
Stands looking seaw^ard. 



■ 



JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXNIAL EXPOSITIOX'. 21 

" There lived we many years: 
Time dried the maiden's tears: 
She had forgot her fears : 

She was a mother: 
Death closed her mild blue eyes, 
Under that tower she lies; 
Ne'er shall the sun arise 
On such another!" 

In the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University there is to 
be found a volume, published in 1556, which contains an account of 
the voyages of the explorer Verrazano, of which Richman in his 
''Rhode Island" (p. 4) thus writes: 

''In a letter to Francis I, of France; dated July S, 1524, Jean Ver- 
razano describes the shords and islands of Xarragansett Bay, a spot 
upon which he had come, in the spring of the year named, in search- 
ing for a channel through the American continent to the regions of 
Cathay. 

" ' Weighing anchor,' he says, ' we sailed eighty leagues toward the 
East, as the coast stretched in that direction, and alwaj^s in sight of 
it; at length we discovered an island of a triangular form, about 
ten leagues from the mainland, in size about equal to the island of 
Rhodes, having many hills covered with trees, and well peopled, 
judging from the great number of fires which we saw all around its 
shores; we gave it the name of Your Majesty's illustrious mother 
(Luisa). 

" ' We did not land there as the weather was unfavorable, but 
proceeded to another place, fifteen leagues distant from the island, 
where we found a very excellent harbor. 

" ' This region is situated in the parallel of Rome, l)eing 41 degrees 
40 minutes of north latitude, but much colder from accidental cir- 
cumstances and not by nature, as I shall hereafter explain to Your 
Majesty, and confine myself at present to the description of its local 
situation. It looks toward the south, on which side the harl)or is 
half a league broad; afterwards upon entering it, the extent between 
the coast and north is twelve leagues, and then enlarging itself it he- 
comes a very large bay, twenty leagues in circumference, in which 
are five small islands, of great fertility and beauty, covered with 
large and lofty trees. Among these islands any fleet, liowever large, 
might ride safely, without tear of tempest or otlier dangers. Turning 



22 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

towards the south, at the entrance of the harbor, on both sides, there 
are very pleasant hills, and many streams of clear water, which flow 
down to the sea. In the midst of the entrance, there is a rock of 
free stone (Goat Island), formed by nature, and suitable for the con- 
struction of any kind of machine or bulwark for the defense of the 
harbor.'" . . . 

''After Verrazano, map-makers were wont to designate Narra- 
gansett Bay as the Bay of St. Juan Baptist, although Verrazano him- 
self had christened it the Bay of Refuge. It remained the Bay of 
St. Juan until 1614, when a Dutchman, Adrisen Block, emulating 
the brave Henry Hudson, who fourteen years before had sailed up 
the lordly North River, appeared off Point Judith in a little ship of 
sixteen tons. Block touched at the three-cornered island which 
Verrazano had named Luisa, and gave to it his own name, Block — 
Block Eylandt. He then carefully explored the Bay of St. Juan, 
calling it Nassau. The west passage he called Sloop Bay, and the 
east passage Anchor Bay. A small island, believed from his account 
of its location to have been Hope (it lay to the west of Aquidneck), 
he described as 'een rodtlich Eylandken.' ' 

But our main purpose is a consideration of some of those more 
definite and specific historical facts by reason of which the State may 
properly be entitled to participate in this exposition in commemora- 
tion of the first permanent settlement of English-speaking people 
on the American continent. 

It is obvious that this State can be best represented by an exhi- 
bition which shall be chiefly historical in its character, and which shall 
present in a concrete form the salient events showing the growth of 
the colony and of the State from that day of small things, when in 
1636 Roger Williams with his five companions, poor in this world's 
goods, made the first settlement in the Providence Plantation, until 
the present time when the State possesses a population of almost a 
half milHon of inhabitants, whose taxable wealth exceeds four hun- 
dred million dollars, when more than one hundred and twenty 
millions of dollars belonging to almost two hundred thousand de- 
positors are held by her savings banks and on participation account 
in the trust companies within her borders, when no State in the 
Union has a territory so densely populated, and Avhen she is unsur- 
passed by any other State in the percentage of the total population- 
employed in manufacturing and in the variety and importance of her 
products. 



JAMESTOWX TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 23 

But the contribution of Rhode Island to such an occasion is not re- 
stricted to material things alone. Consideration is justly due to 
length of years. The settlement of the Providence Plantation was 
but little later than the settlement at Jamestown. Indeed, less 
than thirty years had elapsed when Roger Williams came to this 
place, and thus Rhode Island was among the earliest of the colonies 
to be settled by Englishmen and to be subjected to English rule. In 
addition to the charter granted to Virginia, charters had been granted 
prior to 1636 to the Plymouth colony and to Maryland, and a few 
English settlers had made their way to Connecticut, although no 
charter w^as granted to that colony until 1662. But an English 
patent was not granted for New York until 1664, WiUiam Penn was 
not born in 1636, John Locke, the author of the Essay on the Human 
Understanding and the framer of the first constitutions for the Caro- 
linas, was then a child of the age of four years, and a charter was not 
granted to Georgia for nearly a hundred years thereafter. 

One hundred and thirty years have now elapsed since the Declar- 
ation of Independence and the beginning of our national existence. 
But the beginnings of Rhode Island go back one hundred and forty 
years before the Declaration of Independence, thus giving to Rhode 
Island a longer period of existence as a colony under English rule 
than has yet elapsed since she became an independent State. Few 
indeed are the States whose history joins together the present and the 
past and connects the institutions of to-day with the order of a bygone 
age as does the history of this State. 

Our foundations were laid at the time when Charles I was King 
of England, and it was to this monarch that Canonicus and the 
chief Sachems of the Narragansetts in this colony soon made formal 
submission and pledged their allegiance and claimed his protection. 
The court of Star Chamber, whose sessions Roger Williams had 
attended as a writer of shorthand, was still in existence; the Habeas 
Corpus Act did not receive the royal sanction until more than forty 
years later; the Bank of England and the British Museum were not 
in being, nor had Sir Christopher Wren yet rounded the dome of 
St. Paul's; the Pilgrim's Progress was as yet unwritten: the world 
still waited for Sir Isaac Newton to reveal the law of gravitation; 
and ''Man's first disobedience and the forbidden fruit" had not yet 
inspired the majestic imagery of Paradise Lost. Richelieu then gov- 
erned France and Le Grand Monarque had not ascended the throne; 
the Thirty Years' War was still raging, and the Peace of Westplialia, 



24 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTEXNIAL EXPOSITION. 

which for the first time recognized the principle of the balance of 
power among the Continental States, was 3'et to be concluded; 
Innocent X was not yet seated in the chair of St. Peter; Frederick 
the Great was not yet born, and Peter the Great was not to give his 
name to the Imperial City on the Neva for half a century; Gustavus 
Adolphus had just died, and Holland was successfully contending 
with England for the supremacy of the sea. In all the territory now 
comprised within the limits of the United States there was not a 
printing office or a newspaper or a post-office. One of the earliest 
laws of the colom^ required, under a penalty, that instruction should 
be given in the use of the bow and arrow as weapons of offence and 
defence, and the benefit of clergy was claimed and allowed in our 
courts for more than a hundred years thereafter. Nearly a hundred 
years were to elapse before the birth of George Washington, and 
more than a hundred years were to pass before Benjamin Franklin 
was to ''wrest the lightning from heaven and the sceptre from 
tyrants." 

But it is not solely nor chiefly because of the comparative antiquity 
of its founding that an historical exhibition should be made of the 
development of Rhode Island. Her history is unique in several par- 
ticulars. 

The historian Parkman says that ''the four Northern Colonies 
known collectively as New England were an exception to the general 
rule of diversity; the smallest, — Rhode Island, — had features 
all its own, but the rest were substantially one in nature and origin." 
The absolute separation of church and State was here for the first 
time in histor}^ made the foundation-stone of a civil government. 
It is first seen in the Civil Compact of 1637 (the original of which 
is still in existence) in these words: "We whose names are here- 
under, desirous to inhabitt in the Towne of Providence, do promise 
to subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all such or- 
ders or agreements as shall be made for publick good of ye body 
in an orderly way, by the major consent of the present Inhabitants, 
maisters of families incorporated together into a towne fellow- 
ship, and others whome they shall admitt unto them only in civill 
things.''' 

Here also is illustrated in concrete and organic form one of the 
earliest examples of a government founded upon a voluntary social 
contract. 

The same idea is seen in the Parliamentary charter granted in 1643 : 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 25 

^'With full Power and Authority to rule themselves and Such others 
as shall hereafter inhabit within any Part of the said Tract of Land 
by such a form of Civil Government as by voluntary consent of all 
or the greater Part of them they shall find most suitable to their Es- 
tate and Condition; and for that End to make and ordain such Civil 
Laws and Constitutions, and to inflict such punishments upon 
Transgressors, and for Execution thereof so to place and displace 
officers of Justice as they or the greater part of them shall by free 
consent agree to." 

This charter limitation of the power of legislation to civil in con- 
tradistinction to religious concerns is exemplified in the Code of 
1647, adopted when the provisions of this charter first became 
effective. Thus in one section it is provided: ^'Forasmuch as the 
consciences of sundry men truly conscienable may scruple the giving 
or the taking of an oath, and it would be nowise suitable to the 
nature and constitution of our place who profess ourselves to be 
men of different consciences and not one willing to force another, 
to debar such as cannot do so, either from bearing office among us or 
from giving in testimony in a case depending, be it enacted by the 
authority of this present Assembly that a solemn profession or 
testimony in a court of record or before a judge of record, shall be 
counted throughout the whole colony of as full force as an oath." 

And the solemn conclusion of that code is in these words: ^' These 
are the laws that concern all men, and these are the penalties for 
the transgression thereof, which by common consent are ratified and 
established throughout the whole colony; and otherwise than thus 
what is herein forbidden all men may walk as their consciences per- 
'suade them, every one in the name of his God. And let the Saints 
of the Most High walk in this colony without molestation, in the 
name of Jehovah their God, forever and ever." 

The sentiment emblazoned above the portals of the Capitol, "to 
hold forth a lively experiment that a most flourishing civil state may 
stand and be best maintained with full liberty in religious concern- 
ments," was most fully guaranteed in the charter granted by Charles 
II in 1663, the original still being preserved iii the possession of the 
State. That unique instrument was thus described by the late Chief 
Justice J0I3 Durfee. ''Than that charter, no greater boon was ever 
conferred liy mother country on colony, since time began. No grant 
ever more completely expressed the idea of a people. It at once 
guarantied our ancestors soul-liberty and granted a h\w-ninking 
4 



26 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

power, limited only by the desire of their Anglo-Saxon minds. It 
gave them the choice of every officer, from the commander-in-chief 
down to the humblest official. It gave to the State the power of 
peace and war. It made her a sovereignty under the protection, 
rather than the guardianship, of England's sovereign; so that the 
moment that protection was withdrawn, she stood independent and 
alone, competent to fight her own battles under her own shield." 

How ample, indeed, were the powers of self-government thus con- 
ferred by this charter is shown by a reference to the official opinions 
of the attorney general and the solicitor general given to George II 
upon certain questions, of w^hich the following was the first : " Whether 
any act passed by the General Assembly of this Colony may be 
judged valid, the Governor having entered his dissent from it at 
the time it was voted?" Their reply was to the effect that not 
even the king possessed the veto power over legislation here. The 
crown officers say in their opinion (4 R. I. Col. Rec. 461): ''In this 
charter no negative voice is given to the governor nor any power 
reserved to the Crown of approving or disapproving the laws to be 
made in this Colony." As to the question stated "whether His 
Majesty hath any power to repeal or make void the above mentioned 
act of Assembly, we humbly conceive that no provision being made 
for that purpose, the Crown hath no discretionary power of repealing 
laws made in this province." 

But only twenty-five years before this opinion was given as to 
Rhode Island, Chief Justice Holt had asserted (Salkeld's Reports, 
666)' that "the laws of England do not extend to Virginia, being a 
conquered country their law is what the King pleases." 

In later days this provision as to the separation of church and 
State is in substance found in that provision of the Constitution of 
the United States which declares that "Congress shall make no 
law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free 
exercise thereof; " and in the provisions upon that subject now con- 
tained in the constitutions of every State in the Union. 

The history of more than one religious body bears eloquent testi- 
mony to the reality of this toleration. 

Here was founded the first Baptist church in America. To-day 
there are more than five million members of that communion wor- 
shiping in more than fifty thousand churches. 

The despised and persecuted Jew here found an asylum from op- 
pression. Probably the oldest synagogue now standing in the 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 27 

United States is the synagogue in Newport, which was dedicated to 
the God of Abraham in 1763. Almost a hundred years earlier is 
the deed of the Jewish burial-ground there, which, dating from 
1677, is doubtless older than any other. 

"The very names recorded here are strange— 
Of foreign accent, and of different climes : 
Alvarez and Rivera interchange 

With Abraham and Jacob of old times. 

"Closed are the portals of their synagogue; 
No psalms of David now the silence break; 
No Rabbi reads the ancient Decalogue 
In the grand dialect the Prophets spake. 

" Gone are the living, but the dead remain 

And not neglected: for a hand unseen, 

Scattering its bounty like a summer rain, 

Still keeps their graves and their remembrance green." 

Nor did the Quaker, elsewhere proscribed, imprisoned, and beaten 
with many stripes, seek here a refuge in vain. The Yearly Meeting 
of Friends, first held at Newport in 1661, is to-day the oldest Meeting 
of Friends in the world, save only the Yearly Meeting in London. 
Here from the beginning the Quaker might say in peace: 

" God should be most where man is least : 
So, where is neither church nor priest, 
And never rag of form or creed 
To clothe the nakedness of need, 
Where farmer-folk in silence meet, — 
I turn my bell-unsununoned feet." 

The history of Rhode Island is unique also in that the Charter of 
Charles II granted in 1663 remained in force for one huiulrod and 
eighty years and until the adoption of the present constitution in 
1843, being at the time of its abrogation the oldest constitutional 
charter in the world; and it is of interest to note that by the federal 
census of 1900 there were more than 19,000 of the native horn in- 
habitants of the State still living who were born when the provisions 
of that charter were still in force. 



ZS JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

Without dwelling upon the part which Rhode Island sustained 
in King Philip's War and the French and Indian and other wars, 
among the noteworthy acts in the history of Rhode Island under 
that charter in the revolutionary period these may be specified, 
in the words of the late Chief Justice Job Durfee: "Doubtless each 
of the Thirteen may claim to be foremost in some things: but I speak 
only of those first steps which manifested great daring, or were 
followed by gxeat results. In what gTeat movements, then, bearing 
this impress, was she the fii'st? 

''She was the fu'st to dh-ect her ofiicers to disregard the Stamp Act, 
and to insure them indemnity for doing so. 

"She was the first to recommend the permanent establishment of 
a Continental Congress, with a closer union among the colonies. 

"She was among the first to adopt the Articles of Confederation, 
and, it may be added, the last to abandon them. 

"She was the first to brave royalty in arms. 

"Great Britain was not then here, as at Boston, with her land 
forces in the field, but with her marine — behind her wooden waUs — 
on the flood: and before the casting of the three hundred and forty- 
two chests of tea — the East India Company's property — ^into the 
harbor of Boston, and before the Battle of Lexington, men of New- 
port had simk His Majesty's armed sloop "Liberty." and men of ProA'i- 
dence — after receiving and returning imth effect the first shots fii^d 
in the Revolution — sent up the ' Gaspee ' in flames. 

"She was the first to enact and declare Independence. 

"In May (May 4. 1776*. preceding the declaration of the Fourth 
of July, by the Continental Congress, the General Assembly of this 
State repealed the act more eft'ectually to secure allegiance to the 
king, and enacted an oath of allegiance to the State, and required 
that all judicial process should be in the name of the State, and no 
longer in His Majesty's name: whereby Rhode Island, from that 
moment, became, and is at this day. the oldest sovereign and inde- 
pendent State in the western world. 

"She was the first to estabhsh a naval armament of her own: and 
here, on the waters of her own Xarragansett. was discharged, from it. 
the first cannon fired in the Revolution, at any part of His Majesty's 
na^w. 

"She was the first to recommend to Congi'ess the establishment 
of a Continental Xa^y. The recommendation was favorably re- 
ceived, and measures were adopted to carry it into effect; and when 



JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXNIAL EXPOSITIOX. 29 

that navy was constructed, she gave to it its first commodore, or 
commander-in-chief — Esek Hopkins, of North Providence. She 
furnished three captains and seven heutenants, they being more 
than three-quarters of the commissioned officers for the four large 
ships, and probably the like proportion for the four smaller craft. 
Under this command, the first continental fleet — the germ of our 
present navy — consisting of eight sail, proceeded to New Providence, 
surprised that place, took the forts, made prisoners of the governor 
and other distinguished persons, and, seizing all the cannon, and 
military stores found there, brought them safely into port as a hand- 
some contribution to the services of the American army. On our 
alliance with France, this armament gave place to the French Navy. 

"But whilst she was thus engaged in carrying war over the ocean, 
she was not behind her sisters in carrying it over the land. She 
raised two regiments at the commencement of the war — twelve 
hundred regular troops— she furnished her quota to the Continental 
line throughout the war. In addition to these, from the 16th of 
December, 1776, to the 16th of March, 1780, she kept three State 
regiments on foot, enlisted for the State or Continental service, as 
occasion might require. They were received as a part of the Con- 
tinental establishment, and one of them', at least, was in the Con- 
tinental service under Washington." 

So, too, it is the peculiar honor of Rhode Island that she gave 
to the Continental army, commanded by the great Virginian George 
Washington, the only general who served with him continuously 
for the eight years from the beginning to the end of the War of the 
Revolution, Nathanael Greene, a soldier who from the first in an 
especial degree enjoyed the confidence and the friendship, as he 
merited the respect, of the Father of his Country. 

In a letter to the President of Congress, written in March, 1777, 
Washington says of General Greene: ''This gentleman is so much in 
my confidence, so intimately acquainted witli my ideas, with our 
strength and our weakness, with everything respecting tlie army, 
that I have thought it unnecessary to particularize or prescribe any 
certain line of duty or inquiries for him. I sliall only say, from the 
rank he hoUls as an a])le and good officer, in the estimation of all 
who know him, he deserves the greatest respect, and much rogai'd is 
due to his opinions in the line of his profession." 

The part sustained in that war by Nathannol Gkhmic is thus 



30 JAMESTOWN ter-<:extenxial exposition. 

described in the well-considered words of Alexander Hamilton: '"As 
long as the measures which conducted us safely through the fii'st 
most critical stages of the war shall be remembered with approbation : 
as long as the enterprises of Trenton and Princeton shall be regarded 
as the dawnings of that bright day which afterwards broke forth 
with such resplendent lustre: as long as the almost magic operations 
of the remainder of that memorable winter, distinguished not more 
by these events than by the extraordinary spectacle of a powerful 
army straitened within narrow limits by the phantom of a military 
foroe, and never permitted to transgress those Umits with impunity, 
in which skill supplied the place of means, and disposition was the 
substitute for an army; as long, I say, as these operations shall con- 
tinue to be the objects of cm-iosity and wonder, so long ought the 
name of Greene to be revered by a grateful country. . . . For 
high as this great man stood in the estimation of his country, the 
whole extent of his worth was little known. The situations in 
which he has appeared, though such as woidd have measured the 
faculties and exhausted the resources of men who might justly 
challenge the epithet of gi'eat. were yet incompetent to the full 
display of those various, rare, and exalted endowments, with which 
nature only now and then decorates a favorite, as if with intention 
to astonish mankind. ... It rec^uired a longer life, and still 
gi'eater opponuuities, to have enabled him to exhibit, in fjull day. 
the vast, I had almost said the enormous, powers of his mind." 

Xor is this the only bond of union between Rhode Island and 
Virginia. The Commission of George III. attested by the great 
seal of England, authorizing an inquiry as to the participants in the 
burning of His Majesty's revenue schooner "Gaspee," on June 10, 
1772. in the waters of Xarragansett Bay, stiU hangs upon the walls 
of the State House in Pro\'idence. The royal instructions to the 
commissioners pro\'ided that the offenders should be ''arrested and 
delivered to the custody of the commander-in-chief of our ships in 
North America pursuant to such directions as we have thought fit to 
give for that purpose. ... in order to the said offenders being 
sent to England to be tried for that offense." 

It was the powers therein conferred which on March 1'2. 1773. 
caused the House of Burgesses of Virginia to pass the following 
resolutions: 



JAMESTOAVN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 31 

" Be it resolved — That a Standing Committee of Correspondence and Inquiry- 
be appointed to consist of eleven person, to wit, the Honorable Peyton Ran- 
dolph, Esquire, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard Bland, Richard Henry Lee^ 
Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton, Patrick Henry, Dudley Digges, Dabney 
Carr, Archibald Cary and Thomas Jefferson, Esquires," . . . whose business 
it shall be to obtain the most early and authentic intelligence of all such Acts and 
Resolutions of the British Parliament or proceedings of Administration as may 
relate to or affect the British Colonies in America, and to keep up and maintain 
a correspondence and communication with our sister colonies respecting these 
important considerations and the result of such proceedings from time to time 
to lay before this House. 

" Resolved, That it be an instruction to the said committee that they do, with- 
out delay, inform themselves particularly of the principles and authority on 
which was constituted a Court of Inquiry said to have been lately held in Rhode 
Island with powers to transmit persons accused of offences committed in America 
to places beyond the seas to be tried." 

The Committee of Correspondence thus formed was in due time 
succeeded by the Continental Congress, and this latter body was in 
time succeeded by the Congress of the United States. 

Such an history is worthy of being known of all men, and it is most 
fitting that it should be exemplified on an occasion when the results 
of the settlement of this western wilderness by English-speaking 
people are to be commemorated. 

It has been therefore determined to collect and exhibit by this State 
such original documents illustrative of her early history as it may be 
found practicable to exhibit for such a purpose, and to prepare 
photographic or other fac-similes of such other historical documents 
as it may be found inexpedient to remove for the purposes of such 
an exhibition. Such reproductions become, of course, the property 
of the State and may be later used for a permanent exhibition in 
the Capitol, if deemed advisable, and each such fac-simile is of real 
and permanent value in the event of the loss or destruction of its 
original. 

Among many other papers relating to Rhode Island in tlio British 
State Paper Office there are to be found copies of letters to this 
colony from l\ing, and fi'om ([ueen, and from the great oflRcors of 
tlie State; charters and conimissious nnd records (^f the attem])ts to 
revoke them, orders in council, reports of commissioners, and 
opinions of the legal advisers of the crown. 



32 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

The archives of the State present much that is illustrative and 
much that is of interest in this regard. 

In a report made to the General Assembly by the late John R. 
Bartlett; the Secretary of State (January session, 1860), it is said 
that: 

"The letters are among the most valuable documents, and are not 
surpassed for their historical importance by the official correspond- 
ence of an\' of the thirteen old colonies. They are particularly rich 
in the periods of the Old French war, and the war of the Revolution. 
The wars between Great Britain and France were the JDeginning of 
the great struggle for empire in North America. At the commence- 
ment of the struggle, the British colonies were. confined to a narrow 
belt of territory, scarcely reaching, at its broadest point, three hun- 
.dred miles from the Atlantic coast. Part of New England, the greater 
portion of New York and Pennsylvania, and all the West, then con- 
stituted the French empire in America. The New England Colonies 
and New York were the most prominent in these wars, but none of 
them more so than Rhode Island. The ships she sent out against the 
enemies of England, were more numerous than those of either of 
the other Colonies, while her soldiers were prominent in all the ex- 
peditions for the reduction of Canada and other portions of the 
French empire in America. In the expeditions against Louisburg, 
Cape Breton, Crown Point, Ticonderoga, Oswego, and Quebec, her 
troops or her ships took part; and the correspondence with her 
Governors and the home government, with the British Admirals 
and Generals, show the important position which she held, and the 
aid she furnished, in the struggle for supremacy on this continent." 

In the period preceding the Revolution there are contained several 
letters to the colony from King George II, under the royal sign- 
manual, and original letters from William Pitt and other ministers 
and officers of the crown, as the Duke of Bedford, Lord Dartmouth, 
the Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Hillsborough, George Grenville, 
Charles Townshend, and General Amherst. 

In the Revolutionary period the State archives contain autograph 
letters from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, John Han- 
cock, Le Comte de Rochambeau, Baron Steuben, Sam Adams, John 
Adams, John Marshall, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, John 
Jay, Robert Morris, Richard Henry Lee, Robert R. Livingston, 
Governor Benjamin Harrison, Charles Pinckney, Edmund Randolph, 
Henry Laurens, James Madison, James Monroe, Albert Gallatin, 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENXIAL EXPOSITION. 33 

John Quincy AdamS; Joseph Story and John C. Calhoun, and many 
others. 

A LETTER FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE GOVERNOR OF 
RHODE ISLAND. 

Headquarters, near the Liberty Pole, 

IN Bergen County, 27th August, 1780. 

Sir : — The honorable the committee of co-operation having returned to Con- 
gress, I am under the disagreeable necessity of informing Your Excellency that 
the army is again reduced to an extremity of distress for want of provision. 
The greater part of it has been without meat from the 21st to the 26th. To en- 
deavor to obtain some rehef, I moved down to this place, with a view of stripping 
the lower parts of the county of its cattle, which after a most rigorous exaction, 
is found to afford between two and three days' supply, only; and those consist- 
ing of milk cows and calves, of one and two years old. When this scanty pittance 
is consumed, I know not what will be our next resource, as the commissary can 
give me no certain information of more than one hundred and twenty head of 
cattle, expected from Pennsylvania; and about one hundred and fifty from 
Massachusetts. I mean in time to supply our immediate wants. 

Military coercion is no longer of any avail, as nothing further can possibly be 
collected from the country in which we are obliged to take a position, without 
depriving the inhabitants of the last morsel. This mode of subsisting, supposing 
the desired end could be answered by it, besides being in the highest distressing 
to individuals, is attended with ruin to the morals and discipline of the army. 
During the few days which we have been obliged to send out small parties to 
procure provisions for themselves the most enormous excesses have been com- 
mitted. 

It has been no inconsiderable support of our cause, to have had it in our power 
to contrast the conduct of our army with that of the enemy, and to convince the 
inhabitants that while their rights are wantonly violated by the British troops, 
by ours they were respected. This distinction must unhappily now cease; and 
we must assume the odious character of plunderers, instead of the protectors of 
the people; the direct consequences of which, must be to alienate their minds 
from the army, and insensibly from the cause. 

We have not yet been absolutely without flour; but we have this day, but one 
day's supply in camp; and I am not certain that there is a single barrel between 
this and Trenton. I shall be obliged therefore to draw one or two hundred bar- 
rels from a small magazine which I had endeavored to establish at West Point, 
for the security of the garrison in case of a sudden investiture. 
6 



34 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

From the above state of facts, it may be foreseen that this army cannot pos- 
sibly remain much longer together, unless very vigorous and immediate meas- 
ures are taken by the states to comply with the requisitions made upon them. 
The commissary general has neither the means nor the power of procuring sup- 
plies. He is only to receive them from the several agents. Without a speedy 
change of circumstances, this dilemma must be involved ; either the army must 
disband, or what is if possible, worse, subsist upon the plunder of the people. 

I would fain flatter myself that a knowledge of our situation, will produce the 
desired rehef ; not a relief of a few days, as has generally heretofore been the case 
but a supply equal to the establishment of magazines for the winter. If these are 
not formed before the roads are broken up by the weather, we shall certainly ex- 
perience the same difficulties and distresses the ensuing winter which we did the 
last. Although the troops have, upon every occasion hitherto, borne their 
wants with unparalleled patience, it will^be dangerous to trust too often to a . 
repetition of the causes of discontent. 

I have the honor to be, with great respect,. 

Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 

GEO. WASHINGTON. 

To His Excellency Governor Greene. 

To the possessions of the State may be added contributions from 
historical and patriotic societies and from private citizens. To these 
it is intended to add portraits of such distinguished sons of Rhode 
Island by birth or by adoption as it may be possible to obtain, as 
well as exhibitions of the different issues of colonial currency and 
other objects of real and lasting historical interest. 

In this presence there is no need to dwell in detail upon the life 
and the work of Roger Williams. In his youth he enjoyed the pat- 
ronage of Lord Coke. His letters, some of which are still preserved 
by the Rhode Island Historical Society and the Providence Record 
Commission, show that in later years he was the friend of the 
great Protector whom Macaulay terms 'Hhe greatest prince that has 
ever ruled England." He enjoyed the intimate friendship and the 
long continued hospitality of that Sir Henry Vane of whom Milton 
thus bore witness: 

" Vane, young in years, but in sage counsels old, . 
Than whom a better Senator ne'er held 
The helm of Rome, when gowns, not arms repelled 
The fierce Epirote, and the African bold." 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 35 

Roger Williams was a graduate of Pembroke College^ Cambridge, 
and was familiar with the Hebrew, the Greek, the Latin and the French 
languages. To the author of Lycidas and Comus, of L 'Allegro and II 
Penseroso, the great Latin Secretary of Cromwell, he gave instruction 
in the tongue of Grotius and William of Orange. Though not free 
from the imperfections which are the common lot of man, he never- 
theless voluntarily turned aside from the society of prince and of 
poet and of statesman, and from the still air of delightful studies, 
saying in his own words: '^He (God) knows what gains and prefer- 
ments I have refused in universities, city, country and court, in 
Old England, and something in New England," to seek here that 
which he declares to be his great desire, ^Hhe natives' souls," and to 
vindicate the freedom of conscience from all human restraint. Again 
he says: " I have not been altogether a stranger to the learning of the 
Egyptians, and have trod the hopefullest paths to worldly prefer- 
ment, which, for God's sake, I have forsaken. I know what it is to 
study, to preach, to be an elder, to be applauded, and yet also what 
it is to dig with the spade and plough, and to labor and travel day 
and night amongst English, amongst barbarians." 

The fervid intensity of his convictions is clearly revealed in his 
letter, addressed: 

" To Major Endicot, Governor of the Massachusetts, upon occasion of the late 
persecution against Mr. Clarke and Obadiah Holmes and others at Boston, 
the Chief town of the Massachusetts in Xew England: 

"Oh, how comes it then that I have heard so often and heard so lately, and 
heard so much, that he that speaks so tenderly for his own hath yet so little 
respect, mercy or pity to the hke conscientious persuasions of other men? Are 
all the thousands of millions of millions of consciences, at home and abroad, 
fuel only for a prison, for a whip, for a stake, for a gallows? Are no consciences 
to breathe the air but such as suit and sample his? May not the Most High be 
pleased to hide from his as well as from the eyes of his fellow-servants, fellow- 
mankind, fellow-English? And if God hide from his, from any, who can dis- 
cover? Who can shut when he will oj)cn? And who can open when ho that hath 
the key of David will shut? All this and more (honored Sir) your words will 
warrant me to say, without any just offence or straining." * * * 

"The point is that of the civil magistrates dealing in matters of Conscience 
and Religion as also of persecuting and hunting any for any matter merely 
Spiritual and Religious." * * * 



36 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

" Oh remember that it is a dangerous combat for the potsheards of the Earth 
to fight with their dreadful Potter. It is a dismal battle for poor naked feet to 
kick against the Pricks. It is a dreadful voice from the King of Kings, and Lord 
of Lords — Endicot, Endicot, why huntest thou me? Why imprisonest thou me? 
Why finest, why so bloodily whippest, why wouldest thou (did not I hold thy 
bloody hands) hang and burn me? Yea, sir, I beseech you remember, that 
it (is) a dangerous thing to put this to the maybe, to the venture or hazard, 
to the possibility. Is it possible (may you well say) that since I hunt, I hunt "not 
the life of my Savior, and the blood of the Lamb of God? I have fought against 
many several sorts of consciences, is it beyond all possibility and hazard that I 
have not fought against God, that I have not persecuted Jesus in some of them? 
Sir, I must be humbly bold to say, that 'tis impossible for any man or men to 
maintain their Christ by their sword and to worship a true Christ! To fight 
against all Consciences opposite to theirs and not to fight against God in some of 
them and to hunt after the precious life of the true Lord Jesus Christ. Oh re- 
member whither your principles and consciences must in time and opportunity 
force you. Tis but worldly poKcy and compliance ^vith men and times (God's 
mercy overruling) that holds your hands from murdering of thousands and ten 
thousands were your power and command as great as once the bloody Roman 
Emperor was." * * * 

"Sir, I know I have much presumed upon your many weighty affairs and 
thoughts. I end ^ith an humble cry to the Father of Mercies, that you may 
take David's counsel and silently commune with your own heart upon your bed, 
reflect upon your own spirit, and believe Him that said it to his over-zealous 
disciples. You know not what spirit you are of: That no sleep maj^ seize upon 
your eyes, nor slumber upon your eyelids, until your serious thoughts have 
seriously, calmly and unchangedly (through help from Christ Jesus) fixed 

'Tirst — On a moderation towards the Spirits and Consciences of all mankind, 
merely differing from or opposing yours with only Religious and Spiritual op- 
position. 

" Secondly — A deep and cordial resolution (in these wonderful, searching, dis- 
puting and dissenting times) to search, to listen, to pray, to fast, and more fear- 
fully, more tremblingly to inquire what the holy pleasure and the holy mysteries 
of the Most Holy are : in whom I humbly desire to be your poor fellow servant, 

" Unfeignedly respective and faithful, 

"ROGER WILLIAMS." 

By the authority of the representatives of the people of these 
United States in Congress assembled, the Chief Magistrate of the 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 37 

Republic has extended an invitation to all the nations of the earth 
to send their fleets and their armies to these shores at this time. Here 
will meet, in friendship, the greatest commanders on land and on sea, 
the whole wide world around, from that ancient island kingdom in 
the west, upon whose empire the sun never sets, to that young yet 
mighty island kingdom in the east, the skill and courage" of whose 
marshals and admirals in the most stupendous struggle known in 
modern times have rendered their names familiar as household 
words to all within our borders. But this great gathering, unique 
in our history, would fail of its full significance if the evidences of 
our own advance in material things during the last three hundred 
years, and the evidences of our present prosperity, magnificent and 
impressive as they are, were the only objects which should be pre- 
sented to their admiring gaze. To the products of the forest and of 
the field, of the mill and of the mine, there must be superadded the 
fruits of the spirit in order that the highest purpose and the chief end 
of this occasion may be attained. Thus and thus only will be 
realized the prophecy of the poet-philosopher, whose profound 
speculations at Newport, while he sat within the sound of the loud- 
resounding sea as it dashed against our stern and rockbound coast, 
have been the marvel of all the philosophers who have since at- 
tempted to explain the riddle of the universe to mankind : 

" There shall be sung another golden age, 
The rise of empire and of arts, 
The good and great inspiring epic rage, 
The wisest heads and noblest hearts. 

"Not such as Europe breeds in her decay: 
Such as she bred when fresh and young, 
When heavenly flame did animate her clay, 
By future poets shall be sung. 

" Westward the course of Empire takes its way : 
The four first acts already past, 
A fifth shall close the drama with the day, 
Time's noblest offspring is the last." 

A reception was then held by His Excellency, at the conclusion of 
which the Rhode Island party returned to their hotel and later in the 
day started on their return to Rhode Island. 



38 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

RHODE ISLAXD DAY AXD AVEEK. 

The anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie — September 10 — was 
selected as Rhode Island Day and on that occasion the State was 
represented by His Excellency the Governor and the following mem- 
bers of the official party: 

OFFICIAL STATE PARTY TO JAMESTOVTS TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX, RHODE 
ISLAXD DAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1907. 

His Excellency James H. Higgins, Govemor. 
Secretary of State, Charles P. Bennett. 
State Auditor, Charles C. Gray. 

Governor's PersoJial Stajf. ' 

Col. Attmore A. Tucker, South Kingstown. 

Col. James A. Ryan, Lincoln. 

Col. J. Fulgence Archambault, "U'arwick. 

Col. Harvey A. Baker, Providence. 

Col. James P. Murphy, Pawtucket. 

Col. Irving 0. Hunt, Providence. 

Governor' s General Staff. 

Brig. Gen. Frederic M. Sackelt, Pro\4dence. 
Brig. Gen. W. Howard Walker, Providence. 
Brig. Gen. Walter R. Stiness, Warwick. 
Col. John H. Wetherell, Newport. 

Major Charles W. Abbot, Jr., Providence (retired), by courtesy. 

Senators and Representatives. 

Senator Louis W. Arnold, Westerly. 

Senator William I. Frost, Tiverton. 

Senator ^Tilting Metcalf, Richmond. 

Senator Henry A. Palmer, Cranston. 

Senator George W. Parrott, North Providence. 

Senator John F. Richmond, Barrington. 

Senator John P. Sanborn, Newport. 

Senator Charles H. Ward, Middletown. 

Senator Philip H. Wilbour, Little Compton. 

Senator William Fred Williams, Bristol. 

Representative Roswell B. Burchard, Speaker, Little Compton. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTENXIAL EXPOSITION. 39 

Representative Robert S. Burlingame, Deputy Speaker, Xewport. 
Representative Henry C. Anthony, Portsmouth. 
Representative Edward Atchison, North Smithfleld. 
Representative James J. Barry, Cumberland. 
Representative Oscar A. Bennett, Woonsocket. 
Representative Walter A. Bowen, Warwick. 
Representative Clark Burdick, Newport. 
Representative George C. Cranston, North Kingstown. 
Representative Frank Cullen, Paw^tucket. 
Representative Frank F. Davis, Chepachet. 
Representative Alphonse Gauvin, Lincoln. 
Representative Thomas P. Haven, Providence. 
Representative Horace N. Hassard, Newport. 
Representative Richard Herrick, Woonsocket. 
Representative George W. Hoxie, Charlestown. 
Representative John E. McKenna, North Protvidence. 
Representative Philip A. Money, Exeter. 
Representative James F. Murphy, Central Falls. 
Representative John F. O'Connell, Providence. 
Representative Samuel L. Peck, Warren. 
Representative Elmer J. Rathbun, West Greenwich. 
Representative F. X. Leonidas Ratley, Central Falls. 
Representative George L. Smith, Barrington. 
Representative Clarence D. Wood, Hopkinton. 
************* 
Judge William H. Sweetland, Providence. 
President William H. P. Faunce, Providence. 
William P. Sheffield, Jr., Newport. 
Dennis H. Sheahan, Providence. 
George Batchelor, Woonsocket. 
Wilfred H. Munro, Providence. 
Raymond G. Mowry, Providence. 
Thomas W. Joyce, Providence. ' 

Guests of Governor Higgins. 

John J. Connly, Pawtucket. 
Prof. William MacDonald, Providence. 
Dr. Peter J. Heffern, Pawtucket. 
Dr. Frank P. Gormly, Pawtucket. 
Frank E. Fitzsiinmons, Pawtucket. 



40 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

John J. Fitzgerald. Pawtucket. 

James Cook, Reporter, Evening Call, Woonsocket. 

Press, Edward P. Tobie, Journal, Providence. 

Press, H. Ladd Walford, Tribune, Providence. 

Joseph V. Broderick, Executive Secretary. 

Gen. Herbert S. Tanner, Providence. 

Col. Arthur V. Warfield, Providence. 

DaAdd J. Barry, Providence. 

William T. Leach, Pawtucket. 

Edward P. Butler, Pawtucket. 

Proceeding by steamer from Providence on September 7th, the 
delegation arrived on September 9th at the exposition and was 
quartered at the Pine Beach Hotel. Proceeding thence by carriages, 
an official call was first made iipon the Governor of Virginia at the 
Virginia State building, and then, after a call at the Rhode Island 
.State building,, the day was spent in visiting various exposition 
buildings and the exhibits contained in them. 

In the evening of that day a dinner in honor of the Governor of 
Rhode Island was given by President Tucker of the Exposition Com- 
pany at his residence in Norfolk. 

On the morning of September 10th, a squadron of the 12th United 
States Cavalr}' waited upon His Excellency at his hotel and escorted 
the official party to the Auditorium, upon the steps of which the 
Governor was met by the President of the Exposition Company and 
was accompanied to the stage of that building. On the platform- 
were also seated His Honor J. Taydor Ellyson, Lieutenant-Governor 
of Virginia; President Tucker, President Faunce, of Brown Universitj', 
the orator of the day; the members of the Commission, and two order- 
lies, on^ carrying the State flag and the other carrying the national 
colors. The services were opened with appropriate music, afte^ 
which the President of the Commission spoke as follows: 

Three hundred years have now elapsed since there was established, 
hard by the spot where we now stand, the first permanent English- 
speaking settlement in the new world. 

We are assembled in this place, surrounded bj' all that adorns and 
embellishes civilized life, to contemplate anew the feeble beginnings 



JAMESTOAVX TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 41 

of that civilization and to study from ancient record, and from even 
more ancient relic, the marvellous development under God of the 
great republic, now known and respected by every kindred and 
tribe and people upon earth. 

Typifying and epitomizing the results of that civilization, there 
have been here gathered, from the uttermost parts of the earth, those 
things which may best assist the student, the historian, and the 
philosopher in their researches. 

By those who have thus labored it is fitting that the first word on 
this occasion should be spoken. We therefore may esteem it a 
high privilege to be permitted to listen to one who needs no intro- 
duction in this presence — The honored President of the Jamestown 
Exposition Company. 

President Tucker then spoke, expressing on behalf of the Exposition 
Company their cordial appreciation of the action of Rhode Island 
in participating in the exposition. 

The Hon. J. Taylor Ellyson was then introduced by the President 
of the Commission, as follows: 

On the 14th day of April, 1660, Charles the Second, before he 
ascended the throne of England, declared at Breda, ''We do declare 
a liberty to tender consciences; and that no man shall be disquieted 
or called in question for differences of opinion in matters of religion, 
which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom." 

The royal promise thus made was first incorporated in these words 
in the unique charter granted to the colony of Rhode Island by that 
monarch in 1663. That guaranty of religious liberty reappears in 
the present constitution of Rhode Island, in the provision that no 
man ''shall be enforced, restrained, or molested, or burthened in his 
body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious 
opinions or belief," and is expressed in like words in the const it uti(»n 
of Virginia. 

In the absence of him upon whom it devolves as the chief magis- 
trate of this great State to see that this lilierty of conscience shall 1)6 
sacredly guarded, his honor, the lieutenant governor of \'irginia, has 
honored this gathering by his presence, that \w may say the timely 

6 



42 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

and appropriate word to this assembly — His Honor, the Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia. 

In the absence of His Excellency the Governor of Virginia, His 
Honor the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia then welcomed the 
Rhode Island delegates to the State, saying that it was difficult to 
formally welcome those who are of one's own family and not stran- 
gers, and expressing special appreciation of the State's historical 
exhibit. 

After music, the President of the Commission then presented His 
Excellency the Governor of Rhode Island, saying: 

By the royal charter granted to the colony of Rhode Island in 
1663, it was provided that the governor shall be "from time to time 
constituted, elected, and chosen out of the free men of said company 
for the time being in such manner and form as is hereafter in thesfe 
presents expressed." Eor two hundred and forty-four years, save 
only during the brief period of the regime of Sir Edmund Andros, the 
chief magistrate of Rhode Island has been thus chosen by the free 
men of the colon}' and of the State. 

To the words of greeting on behalf of this most ancient common- 
wealth, it is most fitting that the chief magistrate of Rhode Island, 
who stands the latest, and, with one possible exception, is of the 
longest succession of elective chief magistrates in the western hemis- 
phere, should make due acknowledgment on behalf of the State 
— His Excellency, the Governor of Rhode Island. 

Governor Higgins then made the following adckess: 

ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR JAMES H. HIGGINS. SEPTEMBER 10, 1907. 

This is not the first o.ccasion upon which we have felt the duty of 
appreciating and acknowledging the warmth of a Southern welcome 
and the wholesouledness of Virginia hospitality. On the opening 
day of this exposition our State felt with a pride equal only to that 
of to-day the cheerfulness of your greeting. Our gratitude at that 
time is equalled, if not increased, by our gratitude of to-da3\ In 
behalf, therefore, of the proud and ancient Commonwealth of Rhode 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 



43 



Island, I desire to express our appreciation of the kindness which you 
have shown us. It marks a happy epoch in the history of both our 
States. It indicates a true feehng of interstate brotherhood and 
sisterhood, which ought to prevail, and which I believe does prevail, 
throughout the States of this republic. 

The comity existing between Virginia and Rhode Island is of 
no recent origin. From the early stages of the colonization of 
this hemisphere our interests, our sentiments, and our tendencies 
have been very much along similar lines. Our march along the path 
of progress has been simultaneous and mutual. It was only a few 
years after the historic settlement of John Smith at Jamestown, 
which this exposition is now commemorating, that our own Roger 
Williams, fleeing from the unprogressive spirit of intoleration, blazed 
his way through the wilderness of the Narragansett territory and 
founded the settlement of Providence. Through the dark days of 
the succeeding century and a half our trials and struggles were 
kindred in their nature. Both carried the torch of civilization with 
undying devotion in spite of adversities of every kind, including 
the attack of the Indian and the terror of disease. 

In the stirring times preceding the Revolution our opposition to 
the tyranny of George III was no less marked than that of the Old 
Dominion. The thrilling tones of Patrick Henry, voicing the in- 
dignation of a wronged people in Virginia, were ably seconded by our 
own Stephen Hopkins, Samuel Ward, our Browns and Ellerys and 
others of like vigorous patriotism. 

In the great conflict for independence which followed, our boys 
fought hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder in common cause. 
Second to your Washington only, in ability, tact, and glory, was our 
own immortal Nathanael Greene. 

We meet to-day to celebrate Rhode Island Day at this exposition 
under peculiarly auspicious circumstances. It is a day upon which 
history was made for America and glory for Rhode Island. 
It is a day upon which the reputation and valor of the American 
sailor were placed upon an enduring and noble basis. In the con- 
summation of these happy results Rhode Island played a leading 
role. Ninety-four years ago to-day the British fleet was soundly 
trounced on Lake Erie by the American forces, with Oliver Hazard 
Perry of Rhode Island in supreme command. We therefore take a 
particular pride in every September 10th. and, with Mrginia, we 
claim an honored place in the making of American history by furnish- 



44 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

ing the second greatest soldier of the Revolution, and the greatest 
sailor of the War of 1812, and, perhaps,, the greatest in ail American 
history. 

Our mission, then, to-day is three-fold: To honor our own Com- 
monwealth, to pay respect to the Old Dominion, and to commemorate 
the achievements and the patriotism of Commodore Perr3\ 

When the lessons of this day sink deeph^ into the soul of every 
man who loves his country, who believes in its principles and trusts 
in its future, may the life and patriotism of this sterling naval chief- 
tain in whose honor we are here, serve to strengthen the hearts 
of all wavering in loyalty, and stir with pride the souls of those un- 
counted millions whose devotion and self-sacrifice have made pos- 
sible the creation and the maintenance of a nation like this. May 
the name of Oliver Hazard Perry resound to-day through every 
American household and from every American lip, and may an ap- 
preciative nation turn on every September 10th to the memory of 
Rhode Island's proudest seaman and b}' way of joyous recollection 
exclaim, with Perry: ' We have met the enemy and the}^ are ours.' 

We desire also to express Rhode Island's confidence and sympathy 
in your work and your ambition with this exposition. We are not 
here to criticise; we are here to recommend and encourage your 
v\'ork. We are proud of your efforts to place the exposition upon 
an intellectual and historical, rather than a physical or spectacular 
basis. Appealing as it does to the loftier instincts of civilized 
manhood, we bespeak for it the earnest and unstinted support, not 
merely of the American republic, but of all nations throughout the 
world who would advance the mental and the ethical, without at the 
same time destroying the material side of human existence. 

And now, sir, our gratitude and appreciation to the Governor of 
the Old Dominion, who, speaking for his thousands of fellow citizens, 
has welcomed us here to-day: That your distinguished Common- 
wealth may continue to grow in wealth, numbers, and patriotism is 
our greeting of to-day, and the sincerest wish from your sister State 
of " Little Rhody," which, although not like Virginia, the " Mother of 
Presidents," is, nevertheless, like Virginia, the " Mother of Patriots." 

The President of the Commission then presented President Faunce, 
of Brown University, the orator of the day. in these words: 

That the separation of church and state does not require the 



JAMESTOWN TER -CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 45 

'divorce of religion from education was clearly made to appear in the 
charters granted to institutions of learning before the Revolution. 
The charter of Brown University — granted in 1764 — provided, how- 
ever, that in that liberal and catholic university no religious test 
should ever be applied. The honored head of that ancient university 
needs no formal presentation to any gathering of educated men and 
women — The President of Brown University. 

President Faunce then delivered the following address: 

address of president faunce. 

The Contribution of Rhode Island to the Republic. 

All the citizens of the American Union join this year in greeting 
•and felicitation to the State long famous as ''the mother of presidents" 
and the home of statesmen. This festival, though, celebrated on the 
bank of a single river, is of national concern and significance. The 
growing sense of American nationality which expresses itself to-day 
in new federal laws, new national bureaus of administration, new 
interpretations of the constitution, new unity of feeling and new 
.aspiration toward a part in world-politics, finds expression also in 
great historic festivals commemorating those events which are the 
fountain-heads of the broadening stream of our national life. 

Such an event was the settlement of Jamestown. It was not the 
mere reduplication of previous experiments of a similar kind, not an 
echo of other ideals and attempts. It aimed to be, and strictly was, 
the first embodiment on the western continent of English civilization, 
laws, and institutions in a permanent colony. If we celebrate the 
discovery of America by Columbus, or the centennial of our political 
independence, or the purchase of Louisiana, we certainly can not 
fail to do homage to the men who in 1607 sailed up this noble river 
and laid the foundations of a colony which was later to become the 
leader of thirteen colonies in their immortal assertion of human 
liberty. The Spaniards had previously colonized the Pacific slope 
and penetrated far into Mexico and South America. But their 
memorials to-day are names on tlie map, the crumbling ruins of tlie 
famous missions, and the thrilling heroic story of a light tliat faiknl. 
The French dominated at one time large sections of North America, 



46 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

and still the French language is the vernacular of millions in the 
United States and Canada. But the dominant temper of our ciAdliza- 
tion is not French or Spanish, not Latin or Celtic;' it is the temper of 
the English-speaking race. This country will forever speak the 
tongue of Shakespeare and Sir Francis Drake and Captain John 
Smith. It will forever yield allegiance to the ideals of freedom and 
justice and law which were transferred to the new world when the 
British flag was unfurled on a little island in the Jamestown river. 
Therefore Rhode Jsland joins hands with all her sister states in 
keeping this festival, so rich in memory and bright with prophetic 
meaning. 

Rhode Island is, in some respects, far more closely related to 
Virginia than it is to the northern States which it immediately 
adjoins. Our little commonwealth has always had a life of its own, 
with a flavor so distinct and individual as to render it, in the opinion 
of Mr. James Bryce, the most interesting corner in the republic. 
The defect of American life in general, in the eyes of Europeans, is 
its monotony, the similarity of dialect, costume, mode of life, stand- 
ards and ideals throughout a vast territory. Travel two hundred 
miles anywhere in eastern Europe and you have changed your 
psychological climate and step from the train to find men of novel 
speech and attitude toward life. Travel two thousand miles in 
America, and you find at the end of the journey the same costume, 
the same currency, the same advertisements defacing rural scenery^ 
the same articles for sale in the windows, the same village spire and 
pine schoolhouse with its adjoining flagpole. To the European this 
assimilation of a vast population to common and often commonplace 
standards seems to destroy all interest for the traveller, and to 
obliterate for the inhabitants those traditions of origin and ancestry 
which are often both a restraining and an inspiring power. Cer- 
tainly it is not good for millions of people so to succumb to the 
attrition of modern life as to lose their own color and texture and to 
become like a heap of rounded pebbles on the shore. It may be that^ 
as Professor Royce has told us, what we chiefly need in America is 
more ''provincialism." We need the conscious and deliberate re- 
solve on the part of each section of this country to preserve its own 
landmarks, cherish its own historical tradition and preserve, amid a 
flood of meaningless novelties, those characteristics of blood and 
temper and speech and garb and architecture which constitute the 
most precious gift of each section to the whole country. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 47 

In any such attempt to conserve and compare tradition, we at 
once become conscious of the kinship of Rhode Island and Virginia. 
It is with no disrespect to the noble State of Massachusetts that we 
of Rhode Island acknowledge that even to-day our little State fronts 
southwards. It understands Washington and Jefferson far better 
than it understands Cotton Mather and John Winthrop. Our 
people visit New York and Philadelphia far more naturally and 
easily than they visit Boston and Springfield, and they do this not 
because they still cherish colonial grievances, but because they are 
-dimly conscious of a sympathy with some ideals more fully expressed 
by the Cavaliers than by the Puritans. Twice has the English race 
found permanent expression on this continent — in 1607 at James- 
town, and in 1620 at Plymouth. It would take us far afield to 
attempt to elaborate the extraordinary contrast in those two settle- 
ments. Suffice it to say that Rhode Island, beyond any other sec- 
tion of New England, is by its history and tradition qualified to 
appreciate the temper and motives of the southern colony. 

The early history of Rhode Island, like that of Virginia, is con- 
cerned with an agricultural people. In both States the early settlers 
were planters, rather than traders or manufacturers, and for two 
centuries there were no large cities. The legal title of our common- 
wealth, ''State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations/' for- 
ever commemorates the earliest social structure of the colony. In 
the southern part of our State the plantations were, as in Virginia, cul- 
tivated by slave-labor. In both colonies the owners of these planta- 
tions lived in possession of almost feudal power. The hospitality 
was lavish, the comforts and even the luxuries of life abounded, art 
and science were cultivated, and society attained a refinement 
which to the Puritans would have been repugnant and dangerous. 
Hence in both colonies the plantation or the county was the unit of 
political organization, rather than the village or township, and 
attachment to family and friends was sometimes stronger than the 
sentiment of political democracy. That absolute faith in political 
equality which in spite of conspicuous exceptions has shaped the 
story of Massachusetts has never been a cardinal doctrine in Rhode 
Island or Virginia. Washington and Jefferson to a remarkable 
degree combined democratic principles with aristocratic tastes. 
They fought for the rights of the people, but they left us. in Mount 
Vernon and Monticello, notable memorials of a life of truly baronial 
wealth and comfort. So in Rhode Island we had from the beginning 



48 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTENXtAL EXPOSITION. 

men who were champions of the poor and the oppressed of all nations. 
But we had at the time of the American Revolution a social refine- 
ment in Newport which not only awakened the admiration of 
Washington, but evoked the praise of French officers as well. 

The ''golden age of Newport" — not its gilded age, which came 
later — furnishes possibly the most fascinating part of colonial 
history. The comparative wealth and leisure of the city gave 
opportunity to science, literature and art when these things were 
generally ignored by the colonies in the exigencies of frontier life. 
Intellectual pursuits went hand in hand with elaborate social func- 
tions. In Newport's earliest library were to be found Spenser's 
"Faerie Queene" and other works of the imagination, when as yet 
they were not to be seen at Harvard or Yale. When "the glacial 
period"' had frozen up all imaginative literature in Massachusetts 
and discouraged all writing save that of a theological type, Newport 
had among its citizens Bishop Berkle}^, the philosopher, Gilbert 
Stuart, the painter, and Ezra Stiles, the indefatigable and universal 
scholar. While the Puritanism of the north expressed itself in 
Samuel Sewall and his diary, the colony on the south produced 
Abraham Redwood and his library. While the sturdy and noble 
leaders of Massachusetts Bay were repressing all the pomps and 
vanities of a "world that lieth in wickedness," the families of southern 
Rhode Island were living a life not far different from that of the 
Virginia statesmen who still cherished the social and intellectual 
habits of England, while they rejected utterly its political principles. 
When Francis Wayland was preparing "the most epoch making 
document in the history of American education,'^ his "Report to the 
Corporation of Brown University," written in 1850, he naturally 
turned for inspiration and example to the University of Virginia, 
and after close personal study at Charlottesville, he matured and 
developed his own ideas, recommending in Rhode Island what 
Jefferson had achieved in Virginia. 

I have not time to show hoAv the same relationship has existed in 
political life. Even the most cursory inspection will show that the 
same loyalty to family and home and religion, the same distrust of 
untempered democracy, the same swift response to brilliant and 
exceptional leadership, have characterized both colonies from the 
first days until the present time. Therefore there is no State in the 
Union whose greeting to-day to Virginia is warmer, no State whose 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. . 49 

sympathy with Virginia is more genuine and intimate, than the 
State which this assembly represents. 

But each of these two States has also its unique and individual 
contribution to the republic, and it is of the contribution of Rhode 
Island that we wish now to speak. 

Rhode Island has given to the country at large the finest example 
of the spirit and work of the moral and religious pioneer. The true 
explorers are not always the men who discover lakes and rivers or 
ride for the first time through burning deserts, or across snowy 
mountain-passes. The real pioneers are those who push out the 
boundaries of the human spirit, open up routes of intellectual com- 
merce, and establish outposts of human freedom. If we honor 
Coronado and De Soto and Fremont and Major Powell, much more 
must we honor the men who have gone 

" Voyaging through strange seas of thought, alone; " 

the men who blazed a path through the forests and thickets 
of ancient prejudice; the men who have slain the beasts of 
tyranny and cruelty and built homes for liberty and truth. 
Roger Willams and his associates were not merely laying the 
foundation of a single colony; they were extending the frontier of 
the modern world. They were incarnating in an actually existing 
commonwealth the visions which had come many times to poets and 
statesmen, but which seemed too good to be true. Others had 
affirmed the majesty of the human conscience. Others had de- 
clared that neither political nor ecclesiastical functionary might 
come between the soul and its God. Others had affirmed the separa- 
tion of the civil and religious realm. Roger Williams was the first man 
to found a State on that principle of separation, a State whose funda- 
mental compact was a promise of allegiance and obedience ''in civil 
things only." Cut in the gleaming marble of the facade of the 
Rhode Island capitol is the sentence in which he set forth his great 
ideal: ''To hold forth a lively experiment that a most flourishing 
civil state may stand and best be maintained with full liberty in 
religious concernments." This ideal was the basis of the original 
compact and was incorporated into the charter granted by King 
Charles in 1663: "No person within said colony at any time here- 
after shall be in any wise molested, punished, disquieted, or called in 
question, for any difference of opinion in mattcM-s of religion, who 
does not actively distui'l) iho civil ])oaco of our said colony." Such 

7 



50 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTENXIAL EXPOSITION. 

doctrine was at that time regarded as dangerous and absurd^ if not 
blasphemous, in every European country and in nearly all the 
American colonies. The very word ''toleration" was not to be 
endured in Massachusetts. Indeed, the logic of the situation seemed 
to be with those who feared freedom. Of what avail to defend a 
colony against the Indians, if it was to be rent asunder by internal 
strife, or kept in constant alarm by religious fanatics? Of what use 
to exterminate wild beasts and conquer fevers, if error, far more 
deadly than disease, was to be welcomed at any fireside? Even in 
this year of grace 1907, every European coming to our shores is asked 
by the custom-house officials: ''Are you an anarchist?" Yet the 
purely philosophical anarchist is to-day one of the most innocent 
and harmless of men. If in the twentieth century Ave examine a 
man for his social theory before we allow him to land, is it strange 
that most of the colonies inquired into social and religious attitudes 
before welcoming the stranger to citizenship? But Roger Wil- 
liams's principle was not the fruit of logic, it was with him a primary 
convicton. It was the fundamental principle of Puritanism fully 
understood and heartily followed. It has now become the corner- 
stone of modern political doctrine, accepted more or less consistently 
by all civilized States. But to discern its truth early in the seven- 
teenth century, to embody it in a heroic and stainless life, and to 
build it into the foundation of an enduring State, is the unique and 
unfading distinction of the founder of Rhode Island. 

In the world to-day there is not much more room for the physical 
pioneer. The great American desert is vanishing, the dark continent 
is shot through with light, and even the north pole is besieged by 
expeditions that can not long fail of success. But the moral pioneer 
is to-day more clearly called for than ever before in history. Our 
country is demanding the fearless application of its moral standards 
in the realms of industry, commerce, finance, and international law. 
Our country is turning wearily away from captains of industry who 
are merely "law-honest," and from political leaders who are turning 
public office into private plunder. The public are eagerty asking 
for men who can courageously lead the way into the complete 
moralization of industry and the public service. The men who 
render greatest service to their country are not those who pile marble 
to the twentieth story, or whiten the seas with ships, or organize 
gigantic enterprises — they are those that give us a deeper sense of 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 51 

the things that abide, a clearer vision of public duty, a loftier stand- 
ard by which to live and die. 

A second contribution of Rhode Island to the national life is the 
exaltation of personal honor and integrity in private and public life. 
It would be foolish to indulge in local Pharisaism at a national ex- 
position. Every part of our broad land has produced men of un- 
swerving principle and lofty character. We might even admit that 
some men from the new commonwealths of the middle west have a 
broader outlook and a more genial sympathy than is natural to New 
England. But we venture to affirm that in no part of America has 
there been more constant insistence on honorable dealing in com- 
mercial and even in political life than in Rhode Island. The very 
fact that a community has no strong central authority, that it is not 
held together by external clamps, that it is open to every faith and 
philosophy, tends to accentuate personal leadership and to enforce 
high standards upon the leaders. It has been remarked that what 
orthodoxy was for a century in Massachusetts, that financial solvency 
was in Rhode Island. The fear of heresy in the one colony was 
paralleled by the scorn for dishonesty in the other. There are 
business firms in Rhode Island to-day whose long history is the story 
of unimpeachable integrity through changing decades, and whose 
successes are all intertwined with the history of philanthropy, edu- 
cation, and religion. Schemes for " getting rich quick " have seldom 
found the slightest favor among our people, partly because of our 
natural conservatism, and partly because of our inbred aversion to 
chicanery of every kind and degree. The man of business who 
succeeds by ''the square deal" our people have honored with every 
gift in their power; but the man who triumphs by sacrifice of com- 
mercial honor they never forgive. We have to-day rival manu- 
facturers who would scorn to stoop to secret methods, bankers whose 
word is as sacred as a judicial oath, and financiers whose entire 
career might be audited by the world. Exceptions we can all 
remember; but in general, we may say, that the methods of "high 
finance " have had no attraction for the men eminent in our business 
life. 

Even in })ul)Uc life, where c{)rru])tion is so rife in America, we have 
many things of which to be proud. No judge upon the bench of 
Rhode Island was ever charged with corruption, "draft" on tlie 
part of ])ul)hc officials has been ahnost unknown. No State official 
is to-day even suspected of enricliiug himself at the expense of the 



52 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

people. Xo city in the United States has, on the whole, a cleaner 
city government than the city of Providence. Abuses exist which 
we must steadily oppose, but in general the cities of Rhode Island are 
ably, wisely, and honorable administered. The purchase of votes 
in some localities, which has been widely heralded through the 
country, is a fact which we must acknowledge with shame and con- 
fusion of face. It is a fact which all the best citizenship of the 
State is to-day heartily endeavoring to obliterate. It is a fact due 
to social and economic conditions by which partisan leaders have 
been willing to profit, and which we have tolerated altogether too 
long. But in general it may be said that our city and State officials 
are men acting up to their light, who would scorn to use public 
office for private gain. If Rhode Island has not led the way in the 
material expansion of the nation, she has at least not undermined 
the standards which the fathers left us. Adhering closely to sound 
business methods, honoring steadily men of good judgment and 
established principle, our State has in general transacted its private 
business honestly and committed its public affairs to the direction 
of honorable men. May that record never be tarnished or forgotten! 

But another characteristic of Rhode Island has been its adherence 
to the early ideals of the republic. Our critics may indeed use this 
fact against us. They may claim that we have not grown with the 
passing years, and that we are still clinging to outworn conceptions 
inapplicable to the present generation. There are many voices 
to-da}^ affirming that Washington would retract his farewell address 
if he had opportunity, and that the declaration of independence is 
simply a rhetorical presentation of conceptions long since outgrown. 
It ma}' not, therefore, be injurious to the national life to have our 
little State harking back to the ideas and ideals with which the nation 
started. 

The founders of the nation did not contemplate a sheer and un- 
mitigated democracy. They feared on the one hand an individual 
military dictatorship, and on the other hand they feared the power 
of the mob. They were as much afraid of Demos as of Csesar. Con- 
sequenth^ they carefully balanced their governmental system, 
centralizing certain powers in a federal government, localizing 
certain powers in the various States, and reserving all other powers 
for the sovereign people. They established a mediate government 
through representatives, rather than the immediate government of 
pure democracy. Now it may be that the growth of the country 



JAMESTOAVN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 53 

has brought about the need of a more strongly centraUzed govern- 
ment, or the need of a more immediate expression of the popular 
will — those questions we are not now discussing. We sirnply call 
attention to the fact that the older ideals of a limited suffrage, of 
government by representatives, protected from popular clamor, of 
public policy outlined by natural leaders rather than by mass- 
meeting — these older ideals have long survived and are still potent 
in our little State. Respect for leaders, far stronger in America a 
century ago than to-day, is still strong in Rhode Island. Fear of 
popular caprice, far more prevalent in the day of Washington than 
now, has always made our little State politically conservative. The 
restless desire to make experiments, which characterizes some 
western States, is peculiarly unwelcome to us. The attachment to 
precedent, the regard for authority, the sense of historic perspective, 
the fear of popular upheaval which marked even the boldest men 
among the founders of the nation — all this exists still and is daily 
felt in our closely knit commonwealth. 

We freely admit that such adherence to the past may become 
thoughtless and bhnd. It may stand in the way of social and civic 
development. It may hinder, and obviously has hindered, the growth 
of that sense of distributed responsibility which we call public spirit. 
Unquestionably it would be better for our State if it dared more fully 
to trust the people and so educate them into being fully worthy of 
trust. Unquestionably in our lively apprehension of danger from 
the mob, we have experienced the greater danger of dictatorships, 
social or financial or political. But no one can bring about civic 
betterment in our state unless he understands how our present fears 
and scruples are the direct outcome of reaction from early colonial 
disorders, and are an inheritance from the first days of the American 
republic. 

In some respects this loyalty to old tradition has been most 
beneficial. The tradition of religious freedom has been maintained 
unbroken, and all religious denominations dwell together to-day in 
most cordial amity and cooperation. Protestant and Catholic, Jew 
and Gentile, are free from mutual suspicion and recrimination, and 
all religious bodies are united more thoroughly than in any other 
State in the Union in works of philanthropy, education, and human 
uplift. Hospitality with us is no mere effusive public greeting. It 
is the innate and universal respect for every sincere worker for the 
common weal. Nowhere have the various denominations achieved 



54 JAMESTOWX TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

a more genuine federation of effort than in tlie home of Roger 
WiUiams. 

In another respect is the original tradition still of value, in its 
insistence on the worth of the individual in society, in church, and 
in state. I am willing to admit that the principle of individualism 
has been overworked. I admit that in days of railways, telegraphs, 
telephones and newspapers, in days of great combinations of capital 
on one side and labor on the other, the thoughts of men have been 
widened and that collective thought and action on a vast scale has 
now become a necessity. But why must we have this collective 
action? Why must we have vast combinations in all realms of human 
effort? Why must we organize society more completely? Simply 
in order to give the individual a chance. Sheer individualism 
unchecked defeats itself, as America has found by painful experi- 
ment. If men form a labor union, it is in order that each laborer 
may gain indi\'idual advantage. If men found a political party, it 
is in order that each voter may have larger opportunity to exert his 
power. If pupils come together in great public schools, it is in order 
to develop each indiAddual student. Collectivism is a means toward 
more complete realization of the individual's personal worth and 
dignity. In a heap of sand no single grain has any opportunity, 
since all are separate atoms. In a living tree every single cell 
attains and expresses itself because included in the larger life of 
the entire organism. The object of social combination is individual 
efficiency, happiness, and growth. 

How nobly Rhode Island has illustrated the value of personal 
initiative Ave all know. She has persistently refused to lose man 
in the things that he has made. The great personalities that stand 
out in Rhode Island history — the far-seeing intrepid soldier, Xa- 
thanael Greene — the first commander of the American navy, Esek 
Hopkins; the great naval leader, who ninety-four years ago to-day 
won the battle of Lake Erie, Oliver Hazard Perry; the shrewd, 
broad-minded manufacturer. Samuel Slater; the religious seer, 
whose message has been wrought into the fabric of American life, 
William EUery Channing, — these and a score of other famous men 
have served the entire nation because they have never surrendered 
the individual flavor of their own spirits or parted with personal 
conviction for the sake of any earthly prize. These men have 
entered combinations, military or industrial, in order to realize their 
own powers and utter their own message. When all the sons and 



JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXNIAL EXPOSITIOX. 55 

daughters of Rhode Island shall fully perceive that social and civic 
cooperation is the only guarantee of personal independence, and 
that only in union is liberty possible, then the State will indeed 
become a power to be reckoned with by every State in all the future 
history of America. 

Here, then, is the line of progress for our noble commonwealth. 
Forever shall its intellectual hospitality be preserved. Welcome to 
prophets of every name and faith! ''He that hath a dream, let him 
tell a dream — what is the chaff to the wheat?" Toleration we de- 
mand not for our own beliefs — every man wants that — but tolera- 
tion for beliefs we reject and for theories we consider pernicious. 
Let the falsehood spend itself like steam escaping in the open air. 
Let truth and error grapple — the truth will not lose in the final 
struggle. Let the courage of the pioneers be our courage and the 
integrity of the fathers be our example. But let us remember that 
in the twentieth century the individual is helpless if he stands isolated. 
Only as we find our fellows do we find ourselves. Independence is a 
noble word, provided it conducts us to the inter dependence which is 
nobler still. To stand apart from one's fellows when they are wrong 
is the elementary courage of the reformer and the pioneer; to stand 
with one's fellows in order to set them right is the loftier courage 
and sounder philosophy and nobler citizenship to which we now 
aspire. If Rhode Island, true to its historic emphasis on the dignity 
and value of personality, shall perceive more and more clearly that 
only through social coherence and civic cooperation can personality 
be achieved and expressed, then the smallest State in our national 
territory may be the largest in the value of its message, and from our 
"lively experiment" shall issue streams of living water for the 
refreshment and rejuvenation of the world. 

The exercises were concluded by the national anthem, the audience 
standing meanwhile. 

At the conclusion of the exercises in the Auditorium, luncheon was 
served in the Swiss Alps Restaurant, and thereafterwards the official 
party proceeded to the reviewing stand and witiuv^sod a review of 
the United States Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery stationeil at Camp 
Captain John Smith, tendered to His l^xcellfMicy the (lovernor by 
Brig.-Clen. Frederick 1). (Jrant. 



56 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

At the conclusion of the review a reception was held at the Rhode 
Island building. In the receiving line were Governor Higgins, 
Brig.-Gen. Frederic M. Sackett, President Faunce, and the members 
of the Commission, who were assisted by Mrs. Claude A. Swanson, 
Mrs. J. Taylor EUyson, Mrs. H. St. George Tucker, and Mrs. John 
Taggard Blodgett. Through the courtesy of Colonel Manterola, 
the Mexican National Band tendered their services on this occasion, 
and their delightful music added greatly to the enjoyment of the day. 
Among the invited guests who paid their respects to His Excellency 
the Governor and the Rhode Island representatives were: His 
Excellency Governor Harris and Mrs. Harris, of Ohio, and the officers 
of his staff; and the President and other officers of the Exposition Com- 
pany, with their ladies. In the evening of that day a reception was 
held in the Virginia building by His Excellency the Governor of 
Virginia and Mrs. Swanson in honor of Their Excellencies the Gov- 
ernors of Rhode Island and of Ohio, which was largely attended. 

On the following day the Rhode Island delegation visited James- 
town Island and Williamsburg and in the evening attended a re- 
ception at the Ohio building, given by His Excellency the Governor 
of Ohio and Mrs. Harris; and on Wednesday they attended a re- 
ception at the Maryland building, given by His Excellency Governor 
Warfield of Maryland; leaving by steamer on the return voyage that 
evening, and reaching Providence on the following Saturday, Sep- 
tember 14th. 

The primary object of the Jamestown Ter-Centennial Exposition 
was the celebration of the first permanent settlement of English- 
speaking people in the. new world. It was held at the place most 
convenient of access by land and by water, and which afforded the 
greatest facilities for the accommodation of visitors, and which was 
also most nearly adjacent to the actual place of settlement. It was 
obviously impossible to hold the celebration at Jamestown proper, 
which is to-day but a collection of ruins and is difficult of access. In 
this respect the precedent established by the holding of the World's 
Columbian Exposition at Chicago and the Louisiana Purchase Ex- 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 57 

position at St. Louis (though it was consummated at New Orleans) 
was followed. Primarily historical in its purpose^ it also endeavored 
to show the development of the nation in matters of education and 
industrial progress. Those visitors who expected to find the same 
emphasis laid upon the industrial development of the nation as was 
manifested at prior expositions were doubtless disappointed in that 
respect, though it may well be questioned if there has ever been 
gathered in one building so large and so complete an historical col- 
lection of originals illustrative of the early history of the colonies and 
the several States as was gathered in the History Building at this 
exposition. 

The labors of your Commissioners were almost wholly directed to 
the collection and exhibition of such articles of historical value and 
interest as were illustrative of the history of the colony and of the 
State from the beginning, and the embarrassment of the Com- 
mission was rather as to what to select from the wealth of historical 
material available for that purpose. To papers from the British 
State Paper Office and our own colonial and State records there 
were added valuable contributions of original papers by the Rhode 
Island Historical Society, the Newport Historical Society, the Record 
Commission of the city of Providence, Mr. Fred A. Arnold, of Provi- 
dence, and other private collectors, whose cordial sympathy and 
hearty co-operation enabled the Commissioners to prepare an histori- 
cal exhibit from this State which was awarded the diploma of a gold 
medal by the jury of awards. This collection was located in the 
History Building and was in the charge of Miss Mary C. Talbot, of 
Providence. 

It is gratifying to note that not one of the priceless exhibits in- 
trusted to the Commission was lost or damaged in any way. 

RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL EXHIBIT. 

Upon the walls of the Rhode Island Section of (he History Build- 
ing were placed panels containing the following references to tlie 

8 



58 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTEXNIAL EXPOSITION. 

early days of the colony, selected from the provisions of the royal 
charter, the early colonial records and the writings of Roger Williams. 

ORIGIN OF THE STATE AND THE PURPOSE OF ITS FOUNDERS. 




PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS FOUNDED BY ROGER WILLIAMS— 
1636. 

PROVIDENCE, PORTSMOUTH, NEWPORT, INCORPORATED BY 
PARLIAMENT— 1643. 

RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS OBTAINED 
ROYAL CHARTER— 1663. 

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARED A SOVEREIGN STATE, 
MAY 4, 1776. 

"TO HOLD FORTH A LIVELY EXPERIMENT THAT A MOST 
FLOURISHING CIVIL STATE MAY STAND AND BEST BE MAIN- 
TAINED— W^ITH A FULL LIBERTY IN RELIGIOUS CONCERN- 
MENTS." (ROYAL CHARTER OF 1663.) 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME "RHODE ISLAND." 

"AT THE GENERALL COURT OF ELECTION HELD AT NEWPORT 
ON THE 13TH OF THE FIRST MONTH, 1644." 

"IT IS ORDERED BY THIS COURT THAT THE YSLAND COM- 
MONLY CALLED AQUETHNECK SHALL BE FROM HENCEFORTH 
CALLED THE ISLE OF RHODES, OR RHODE ISLAND." (COL- 
ONIAL RECORDS.) 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 59 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME "PROVIDENCE." 

''AND HAVING OF A SENSE OF GOD'S MERCIFUL PROVIDENCE 
UNTO ME IN MY DISTRESS CALLED THE PLACE PROVIDENCE, I 
DESIRED IT MIGHT BE A SHELTER FOR PERSONS DISTRESSED 
FOR CONSCIENCE." (ROGER WILLIAMS.) 



ADOPTION OF AN ANCHOR AS THE DESIGN FOR "THE SEALE 
OF THE PROVINCE."— 1647. 

"ACTS AND ORDERS MADE AND AGREED UPON AT THE GEN- 
ERALL COURT OF ELECTION HELD AT PORTSMOUTH IN RHODE 
ISLAND, THE 19, 20, 21 OF MAY, ANNO. 1647, FOR THE COLONIE 
AND PROVINCE OF PROVIDENCE." 

"IT IS ORDERED THAT THE SEALE OF THE PROVINCE SHALL 
BE AN ANCHOR m^ ." (COLONIAL RECORDS.) 



T 



THE LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE GUARANTEED IN THE ROYAL 
CHARTER DECLARED BY KING CHARLES TO BE AN EX- 
PERIMENT IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 

"OUR GRANT" * * "IS CROWNED WITH THE KING'S EX- 
TRAORDINARY FAVOR TO THIS COLONY AS BEING A BANISHED 
ONE, IN WHICH HIS MAJESTY DECLARED HIMSELF THAT HE 
WOULD EXPERIMENT, WHETHER CIVIL GOVERNMENT COULD 
CONSIST WITH SUCH LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE. THIS HIS MA- 
JESTY'S GRANT WAS STARTLED AT BY HIS MAJESTY'S HIGH 
OFFICERS OF STATE, WHO WERE TO VIEW IT IN COURSE BE- 
FORE THE SEALING, BUT FEARING THE LION'S ROARINCJ, THEY 
COUCHED, ACJAINST THEIR WILLS, IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS MA- 
JESTY'S PLEASURE." (ROGER WILLIAMS.) 

*************** 

THE LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE GUARANTEED IN TIIi: ROYAL 
CHARTER DECLARED BY R()(iER WILLIAMS TO BI<: DIIAKI.H 
THAN LANDS OR LIFE. 

"ALL THE WORLD MAY SEE HY II IS MAJKSTY'S DFCLAHA'I IONS 
AND ENGAGEMENTS BEFORE HIS HFTURN, AND HIS DKCLA- 



60 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

RATIONS AXD PARLIAMEXT SPEECHES SIXCE. AXD MAX'Y SUIT- 
ABLE ACTIXGS. HOW THE FATHER OF SPIRITS HATH MIGHTILY 
IMPRESSED AXD TOUCHED HIS ROYAL SPIRIT."— -HEXCE HE 
HATH VOUCHSAFED HIS ROYAL PROMISE UXDER HIS HAXD 
AXD BROAD SEAL. THAT XO PERSOX IX THIS COLOX'Y" SHALL 
BE MOLESTED OR QUESTIOXED FOR THE MATTERS OF HIS COX- 
SCIEXCE TO GOD. SO HE BE LOYAL AXD KEEP THE CIVIL 
PEACE. SIR. WE MUST PART WITH LAXDS AXD LIVES BEFORE 
WE PART WITH SUCH A JEWEL." ROGER WILLIAMS.' 



THE EXTREME CARE TAKEX BY ROGER WILLIAMS XOT TO 
ENCROACH UPOX THE LAXDS OF OTHERS IX EST.IBLISHIXG 
THE WESTERX BOUXDARY OF THE COLOXY. 

•SO THAT I MUST STILL AFFIRM AS IX GOD'S HOLY PRES- 
EXCE. I TEXDERLY WAIVED TO TOUCH A FOOT OF LAXD IX 
WHICH I KXEW THE PEQUOD WARS WERE MAIX'TAIXED. AXD 
WERE PROPERLY PEQUOD. BEIXG A GALLAXT COUXTRY: AXD 
FROM PAWCATUCK RIA'ER HITHERWARD. BEIXG BUT A PATCH 
OF GROUXD. FULL OF TROUBLESOME INHABITANTS. I DID. AS I 
JUDGED. INOFFENSIVELY. DRAW OUR POOR AXD IXTOXSIDER- 
ABLE LINE." ^ROGER WILLIAMS.) 



THE HARDSHIPS EXDURED BY ROGER WILLIAMS IX HIS FIRST 
COMIXG TO THE PROVIDEXCE PLAXTATIOXS AXD IX THE 
EARLY DAYS OF THE COLOXY. 

■•I WAS SORELY TOSSED FOR OXE FOURTEEX WEEKS. IX A 
BITTER WIXTER SEASOX. XOT KXOWIXG WHAT BREAD OR BED 
DID MEAX. ■ ROGER WILLIAMS. 



•I HAVE XOT BEEX ALTOGETHER A STRAXGER TO THE 
LE-IRXIXG OF THE EGYPTIAXS AXD HAVE TROD THE HOPE- 
FULLEST PATHS TO WORLDLY PREFERMEX'T. WHICH. FOR 

CtOD'S saice I ha^t: forsakex. i kx'ow what it is to study. 

TO PREACH. TO BE AX ELDER. TO BE APPLAUDED. AXD YET 
ALSO WHAT IT IS TO DIG WITH THE SPADE AXD PLOUGH. AXD 
LABOR ANT) TRA^'EL DAY AX'D XIGHT AMOXGST EXGLISH. 
AMOX'GST BARBARIAXS." ROGER WILLIAMS.) 



JAMESTOWX TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 61 

The Rhode Island Exhibit in the History Building was composed 
partly of original documents and partly of photographic reproductions 
of such documents and was as follows: 

FROM BRITISH STATE PAPER OFFICE. 

Parliamentary Patent of March 19, 1643, granting: " Si free and 
absolute Charter of Civill Incorporation to be known by y*^ name of 
y® Incorporation of Providence Plantations in y^ Narragansett Bay 
in New England — together with full Power & Authority to governe 
& rule themselves & such others as shall hereafter inhabit w*^ in any 
part of y® s^ Tract of Land by such a forme of Civill Government as 
by voluntary consent of all or the greatest part of y^ shall be found 
most suitable to their Estate & Condition: & to that end to make 
and ordaine such Civill LaAves and Constitutions & to inflict such 
punishments upon Transgressors & for execution thereof soe to place 
& displace Officers of Justice as they or the greatest part of y™ 
shall by free consent agree unto: — Provided nevertheless y^ the s'* 
Lawes, Constitutions & Punishments for ye Civill Government of y^ 
s^ Plantations be Conformable to ye Lawes of England so far as y® 
nature & Constitution of y® Place will admitt." 

The Narragansett Patent — so called — of December 10, 1643, 
whereby the present territory of the State of Rhode Island was 
granted to Massachusetts — Being signed by only nine members of 
the Colonial Board — one less than a majority — the grant was invalid. 

''The act and deed of the voluntary and free Submission" by the 
Narragansett Sachems of their lands and people to King Charles 1. — 
April 19, 1644. 

''Nor can wee yeeld over our selves unto any that are Subjects 
themselves in any case, having our selves been the Chiefe Sachems 
or princes Successively of this country time out of minde." 



62 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXNIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

Commission to William Coddington as Governor of "Acquedneck 
alias Rhode Island/' April 3, 1651. 

Order of Council — March 8, 1654 — ordering proclamation of Oliver 
CromAvell as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth and providing 
that all writs issue in his name. 

Letter ordered by the Council to be sent by Oliver Cromwell to the 
Colony of Rhode Island. 

Acceptance of Submission of Xarragansett Sachems, March 20, 
1664, by Commissioners of Charles II. and tribute of 2 wolves' skins 
annually on the 29th of May required. 

Letter from Charles 11. to Colony of Rhode Island — April 23, 1664 
— acknowledging their address of thanks for royal charter of 1663: 

''Wee doe assure you wee shall still use the same care and pro- 
tection towards you and preserve all your libertyes & privileges both 
Ecclesiasticall & Civill without the least violation & extend our fur- 
ther favour towards you upon all occasions which may advance your 
good and prosperity." 

Report of Commissioners of Plantations as to conditions in Rhode 
Island. Made to Charles II., December 14, 1665. 
Refers to submission of Narragansett Sachems in 1664. 

Letter of Charles II. ''To Our Trusty & Wellbeloved, the Gov^ 
& y^ Council of y® Colony of Rhode Island in New England," April 
10, 1666. 

"You may therefore assure 3^ourselves that Wee shall never beeun- 
mindfull of this y"" Loyal and Dutifull Behavior, but shall, upon all 
occasions, take notice of it to your advantage; promising j^ou our 
constant Protection and Royal Favour in all things that may con- 
cern your Safety, Peace and Welfare." 

Letter from Charles II. requiring aid of Colony in repressing 
Bacon's Rebellion — November 3, 1676. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 63 

Instructions by James II. to Sir Edmund Andros to demand charter 
of Rhode Island — September 12, 1686. 

N. B. The return day of the writ of Quo Warranto being past 
before service" of the same on the Colony, no judgment was ever 
entered thereon and the Crown was advised by the Attorney General 
that the charter was not forfeited. 

The charter was never surrendered to Sir Edmund Andros. 

Letter of King William, March 3, 1692, requiring New England 
Colonies — a special letter being sent to Rhode Island — to provide 
" Si Quotta of Men or other assistance to be given by each Coloney or 
Province for the defence of New York as Occasion may require the 



Opinion of the Attorney General upon validity of Charter of Rhode 
Island — December 7, 1693. 

^'I find by some Papers formerly sent mee by Mr. Povey that in 
the Year 1686 there was a Prosecution by a Quo Warranto against 
the said Corporac"; but I do not find there were any Judgement 
thereupon, nor further Proceedings had then, only sending over the 
writt, the return whereof was past before it came to them." * * >i^ 
''I see nothing in Point of Law but that their Majesties may (if their 
Royall pleasure be so and no objection in point of State arise against, 
it) gratify the Pef^® and Confirm their Charter and Explain the 
Easterne Boundaries as desired." 

Letter from Queen Mary — August 21, 1694 — relative to command 
of militia in Rhode Island under the Charter of 1663. 

''Wee have therefore further signified our pleasure to our said 
Gov*" of our Province of the Massachusetts Bay that in the Execution 
of the Powers granted to him by our said Commission, he do not take 
upon him any more than during war to command such Quota or part 
of the Militia of Our said Colony as we shall at any time direct as 
occasion may require the same, Except in case of Eminent danger of 
an Actuall Invasion of the Enemy," &c., and appointing a "Quota or 



64 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTENXIAL EXPOSITION. 

Part of our Militia of Our Colony of Rhode Island and Providence 
Plantation, not Exceeding forty-eight men be the measure of the 
assistance to be given by Our said Colony for y^ defence and Security 
of Our said Province of New York." 

Sea Commission Granted by John Greene. Deputy Governor of 
Rhode Island to John Bankes of Newport as Captain of the Ship 
Portsmouth — December 10, 1694 — in exercise of the power granted 
by the royal charter of 1663 ''to encounter, expulse. expel and resist^ 
by force of arms, as well by sea as by land, and also to kill, slay and 
destroy, by all fitting ways, enterprise and means, whatsoever, all 
and every such person or persons as shall, at any time hereafter, 
attempt or enterprise the destruction, invasion, detriment or annoy- 
ance of the said inhabitants or Plantations;" ^ ^ ^ ''and to 
take or surprise, by all ways and means whatsoever, all and every 
such person and persons, with their ship or ships, armor, ammuiiition 
or other goods of such persons, as shall, in hostile manner, invade or 
attempt the defeating of the said Plantations, or the hurt of the said 
Company and inhabitants." 

Charges preferred to the Lords of Trade by Governor Dudley of 
Massachusetts against Rhode Island — November 2, 1705 — particu- 
larly charges Nos. 6 — 7 — 8^9 — 10. 

"Address & Petition of the Governor of Rhode Island relating to 
an Act passed by the Assembly there from which he dissented, for 
Emitting Bills of Credit" — August 20, 1731 — and desiring instruc- 
tions from the Crown as to veto power of Governor under royal charter 
of 1663. 

N. B. The Governor of Rhode Island has never had the veto 
power from the beginning to the present day. 

Petition of certain citizens of Rhode Island requesting royal veto 
of certain legislation — August 30, 1731. This petition, with the next 
preceding was referred to the Attorney General and the Solicitor 
General for an opinion — who decided adversely to the royal veto. 



1 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 65 

Opinion of the Attorney General and Solicitor General — August 
5, 1732 — on foregoing petitions denying the veto power either of the 
Governor or of the King over legislation passed by the General As- 
vsembly; under the provisions of the Charter of 1663: " In this Charter 
no negative voice is given to the Governour, nor any power reserved 
to the Crown of approving or disapproving the Laws to be made in 
this Colony." * '^ "As to the Question stated in Mr. Popple's 
Letter, vizt. Whether his Majesty hath any powel to repeal or make 
void the above-mentioned Act of Assembly, we humbly conceive 
that no provision being made for that purpose the Crown hath no 
discretionary power of repealing Laws made in this Province, but the 
validity thereof depends upon their not being contrary, but ^s near 
as may be agreeable, to the Laws of England, regard being had to the 
nature and constitution of the Place and People. Where this Con- 
dition is observed the Law is binding, and where it is not the Law is 
void as not warranted by the Charter." 

FROM COLONIAL AND STATE RECORDS. 

Deed of 'Hhe great Island of Acquidneck" (Rhode Island) to ''Mr. 
Coddington and his friends" for ''forty fathoms of white beades," 
March 24, 1637. Signed by the Sachems of the Narragansetts — 
Canonicus and Miantonomi — and witnessed by Roger Williams. 
The early settlers in Rhode Island purchased from the Indians, Roger 
Williams denying the right of the King of England to grant that 
which he did not own. This deed marks the termination of Indian 
occupation and the beginning of English occupation of the territory 
therein described. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Act of the "General Courte of Election" in May, 1647, establishing 
the Seal of the Province as an Anchor — the present design — and also 
at the same session creating "The Generall Courte of Tryalls." — the 
general Colony court of last resort having jurisdiction of sucli things 
as may hazard Life, Liml), disfranchisement, or BannishnuMit." as 



66 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTENXIAL EXPOSITION. 

well as "finally all such matters as are not referred by any Charter or 
order unto any Towne apart or to the Island or Two Townes jointly.'^ 

This court was the predecessor of the present Supreme Court of 
the State. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

The "Confirmation Deed" of • Roger Williams of the site of the 
present city of Providence — December 20, 1661. "And having in a 
sense of God's merciful providence unto me in my distresse called the 
place Providence, I desired it might be for a shelter for persons dis- 
tressed of conscience/' Reference is also made therein to the Narra- 
gansett Sachem Miantonomi as "my kind friend." 

From* Records of the City of Providence. 

"An order for putting in Actuall practice the Commands of the 
Charter" granted by Charles II. in 1663— March 1, 1664. 
From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Receipt given by a Committee of the General Assembly for the 
"Duphcate Charter," dated November 15, 1678, and acknowledg- 
ing as receiving from "Thomas Ward of Newport one of the asignes 
of the late deceased Mr. John Clarke, the Duphcate of the Charter 
sealed with Yellow Wax containing three sheets in parchment with 
the promise that if it shall appeare that the said Duplicate by any act 
of the former Assembly doth belong unto the Executors of the said 
John Clarke deceased then to be truly Returned." 
From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter bearing the Sign-Manual of King George II. to the Governor 
of Rhode Island, dated June 15, 1739, and authorizing the issuing of 
commissions of Marque and Reprisal against the subjects of the 
King of Spain. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Duke of Newcastle to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
October 29. 1739. announcing Declaration of War with Spain. 
From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 67 

Letter from Duke of Newcastle to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
March 31, 1744, announcing Declaration of War with the King of 
France. 

From Colonial Records , Office of Secretary of State. 

'^ Secret instruction for Our Trusty and Wellbeloved the Governor 
and Compan}^ of Our Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Planta- 
tion in America." Given April 2, 1740, under the Sign-manual of 
King George II. 

Fro7n Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Captain Daniel Fones of the Colony Sloop "Tartar" 
(26 Guns and complement of 100 men) written at Siege of Louisburg 
in 1745 to Governor of Rhode Island: 

"Yesterday we met with a Ship on our passage which proved To 
be a french man of War, 40 Guns, and after we had given him two 
of our Bow Chasers he saluted us with four Broad Sides to y® Number 
of at least 60 Cannon — Y® Ship went so well y* we were obliged to 
weaken our Vessel To get Clear of him w^^ we Effected after 8 hours 
Chase; we are this day going in Chase of him in Company with Cap^ 
Rowe." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Captain Daniel Fones of the Colony Sloop "Tartar " 
(26 Guns and complement of 100 men) to the Governor of Rhotle 
Island, written in Louisburg Harbor, in 1745: 

"Although 4 Sworn Masters of Ships were Yesterday Sent on 
Board to View our Sloop and Made Return that y® Jibb and fore 
Stay, 3 of y® Shrouds, ye Main Sheet and all of y® Running Rigging 
is Ineffectual and good for Nothing, Yet, Nevertheless, 1 am hurrioil 
away to y® Island of St. John w*^^^ 70 Men of Warsnien. Wliai y® 
consequences may be, God knows. I am to convoy a Number of 
Vessels with Sokliers To demand y® Inhabitants of St. Johns 'I\) 
Surrender y*" Island To the King of great Britain." 

From Colonial Records, Ojficc of Secretary of State. 



68 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Letter from Captain Daniel t'ones of the Colony Sloop "Tartar" 
(26 Guns and complement of 100 men) written at Siege of Louisburg, 
June 26, 1745, to the Governor of Rhode Island: 

''On y® 15th Inst, me Self with Two other Sloops Under my Com- 
mand met with y°^; as near as we could guess Twelve Hund*^ in 
Number in Femme Goose Bay; Their fleet Consisted of Two sloops, 
Two Schooners one Shalloway and about fifty Indian Canoes but 
we with our Consorts gave y°^ So warm a Reception, killing Some 
and wounding others; as Caus'^ y^ To retire with precipitancy up 
Creeks out of our reach; and have been Cruising for y™ Ever Since. 
So y* we hope we have Stopt y^ from going to Cape Breton. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Captain Daniel Fones of the Colony Sloop ''Tartar,'^ 
to the Governor of Rhode Island, dated, Louisburg Harbor, July 18, 
1745. ''I * * have had the pleasure of walking Lewisbourg 
Streets which is y® strongest place I ever Saw." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Captain Daniel Fones of the Colony Sloop ''Tartar," 
dated at Louisburg Harbor, July 30, 1745, to the Governor of Rhode 
Island: "The Commodore likes the Sloop So well That he will by 
no means part with her." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Sir William Pepperell to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
July 25, 1745, and announcing Surrender of Louisburg. 
From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Governor Shirley of Massachusetts and Admiral War- 
ren to Governor of Rhode Island, dated October 23, 1746: "We" * 
'^' * "are glad that your Government have shown so good a spirit 
by cheerfully promoting a Service of such Importance as the Relief 
of Annapolis Roj^al, & the saving of it from falling into the Enemy's 
hands." 

Frojn Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 69 

Letter of Governor Shirley of Massachusetts to John Gardner^ 
Deputy Governor of Rhode Island, dated January 13, 1755, 'Tom- 
mending action of Colony of Rhode Island.'' 

"I wish every English Colony in North America was animated, 
sir, with the same Spirit and Zeal for his maj^^ Service and the 
general Welfare of his Colonies, that the Governor of Rhode Island 
hath shown in the Instance of it mentioned in the letter w'^^ I have 
the honor to receive from you, at this Critical Conjuncture of Af- 
fairs." 

Note. — The letter referred to above was sent by Deputy Governor Gardner 
in compliance with the instructions of the General Assembly, and after detailing 
the raising of troops and officers, thus concludes: "I have the pleasure to as- 
sure Your Excellency that the Assembly are animated with the laudable zeal of 
doing everything in the power of the government to answer effectually and com- 
ply with his Majesty's instructions." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from the Duke of Bedford to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated February 6, 1749, announcing Definitive Treaty of Peace con- 
cluded at Aix La-Chapelle. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Governor Sharpe of Maryland, as Commander-in- 
Chief, to Governor of Rhode Island, dated November 8, 1754, re- 
questing aid ''to repel the encroachments of the French." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from H. Fox to Governor of Rhode Island, dated May 17,. 
1756, announcing Declaration of War with the King of France. 
From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of Stale. 

Letter from Lord LoudoUn to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
July 23, 1756, announcing his ap])ointment as "General ct Com- 
mander-in-Chief" of all the King's forces in North America: 

"I do from your Zeal and Attachment to His Majesty's Service, 



70 . JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

and from the Loyalty and Good disposition of your People, depend 
upon all Assistance that the State and Circumstances of Your Colons- 
is able to give me." 

From Colonial Records, Office of the Secretary of State. 

Letter from Sir Jeffrey Amherst to Governor of Rhode Island, 
•dated July 27, 1759, announcing Evacuation of Ticonderoga. 
From Colonial Records, Office of the Secretary of State. 

Letter of Sir Jeffrey Amherst to Cxovernor of Rhode Island, dated 
August 8, 1759, announcing Evacuation of Crown Point. 
From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Sir Jeffrey Amherst to Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated December 13, 1759, commending Col. Babcock of Rhode Island. 

"And as Colonel Babcock has throughout the whole Campaign 
continually manifested his great Zeal for the Service, and upon all 
occasions promoted it to his Ltmost, I should not do him Justice were 
I to omit giving him this publick Testimony of it and begging of 
You to return him my particular thanks for the same." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Sir Jeffrey Amherst to Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated March 28, 1762, announcing the capture of the Island of Mar- 
tinique, and the capitulation of Port Royal. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Earl of Egremont to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
January 7, 1762, announcing Declaration of ^Var with the King of 
Spain. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Order of King George III. in Council, March 19, 1765, relative to 
the " Riotous behaviour of the Inhabitants of Rhode Island in oppo- 
sition to Lieutenant Hill, Commanding Officer of the Schooner St, 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 71 

John/' * * " and what was done by the Government of the said 
Colony when the populace possessed themselves of the Battery upon 
Goat Island, and what measures have been since taken to discover 
and bring to Justice the Offenders." — With copies of accompanying 
reports of Admiral Colvill and other officers. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Captain Smith to Admiral Colvill. (St. John Affair, July 
12, 1764:) "I immediately sent on Shore for the Gunner of the Fort 
to know his authority for Firing on the King's Colours. He pro- 
duced an order for stopping that Vessel signed by two of the Council, 
the Deputy Governor being absent at the time. I, in Comp^ with 
my Lieut* waited on the Governor and Council to demand a proper 
Acknowledgment of the Insult they had Committed." "^ * ''They 
agreed that the Gunner had acted by Authority and that they would 
answer for it when they thought it necessary." 

From Colonial Records, Office of the Secretary of State. 

Lieut. Hill's Report: ''As soon as the Mob saw our design they 
sent a Sloop & two or three Boats full of men to the Battery on Goat 
Island and began to fire on us." * * * "They fired eight Shot 
at us one of which went through our Mainsail whilst Ave were turning 
out. At 8 We Anchored in 10 fathom Water within half a Cables 
length of the Squirrel and received one Shot more from the Battery, 
which went close under the Squirrels Stern." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Report of Lieut. Hugh Deckie: 

"They used me with great violence & knocked me down &: would 
have detained me " * * "I then went on Shore to demand Justice 
of the Deputy Governor for the treatment I had received at the Fort 
& he replied I must pursue the Law." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

The "Stamp Act Resolutions" a(loi)to(l by the (5(MUMal AsstMubly 



72 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

of Rhode Island on September 15, 1765, being the first to guarantee 
indemnity in disregarding the act: 

''5th. That His Majesty's Liege People the Inhabitants of this 
Colony are not bound to yeelld Obedience to any Law or Ordinance 
Designed to Impose any Internal Taxation Whatsoever upon them, 
other than the Laws and Ordinances of the General Assembl}^ afore- 
said." 

"6th. That all the officers in this Colony appointed Ijy the Au- 
thority thereof be and they are hereby directed to proceed in the 
Execution of their respective offices in the same Manner as L^sual, 
And that this Assembly will Indemnify and Save harmless all the 
said officers on account of their Conduct Agreeable to this Resolu- 
tion." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Earl of Hillsborough to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated. November 15, 1768, signifying the displeasure of King George 
III. with an address from the General Assembly: 

''The King" * '•' "has ordered me to signify to you, for the 
information of the General Assembly, that His Majesty does not ap- 
prove thereof, and that tho' His Majesty will ever be ready to hear 
and redress any real Grievance that may be complained of by His 
Subjects in Rhode Island, in a language corresponding with the Prin- 
ciples of the Constitution, yet His Majesty holds himself bound b}^ 
every Tie of regard for the Welfare and Interest of the whole Com- 
munity to reject any petition or Address founded upon claims and 
pretensions inconsistent with the Authority of the supreme legis- 
lature over all the British Empire, which Authority His Majesty is 
resolved to preserve and support entire and inviolate." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Earl of Hillsborough to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated May 14, 1768, requesting assistance and support to be given to 
His Majesty's Customs Officers. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 73 

Instructions to the Royal Commissioners appointed ''for enquiring 
into the circumstances relative to the attacking, plundering and burn- 
ing our armed Schooner called the Gaspee Schooner within our Colony 
of Rhode Island, In America, on the 10th of June last." (1772) — 
Dated September 4, 1772, under the Sign-manual of King George III. 

This was the first overt act of the Revolution, and led to the adop- 
tion, by the House of Burgesses of Virginia, on March 12, 1773, of the 
Resolutions creating a Standing Committee of Correspondence and 
pro Adding: ''That it be an instruction to the said Committee that 
they do, without delay, inform themselves particularly of the prin- 
ciples and authority on which was constituted a Court of Inquiry 
■said to have been lately held in Rhode Island with powers to transmit 
persons accused of offences committed in America to places beyond 
the seas to be tried.'' The Committee of Correspondence thus formed 
was in due time succeeded by the Continental Congress and this latter 
body was in time succeeded by the Congress of the United States. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary, of State. 

Letter from the Earl of Dartmouth to Governor of Rhode Island — 
March 3, 1773 — requiring that the King's Admiral's flag "be saluted 
in such manner as is usual in all other Parts of His Majesty's Domin- 
ions in America." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Peyton Randolph to the Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
March 19, 1773, accompanying copy of Resolutions of House of 
Burgesses of Virginia creating Committee of Correspondence conse- 
quent upon the appointment of the Gas])ee Commission. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Record of a Meeting of the Town of Providence, May 17. 1774, 
instructing deputies from that town in the General A.^sembly "to 
use their Influence at the a])proaching Session of the General Assem- 
bly of this Colony for promoting a Congress as soon as may be of the 
re])resentativcs of the (General Assemblies of the Several Colonies and 



74 JAMESTOWN' TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

P^o^^nces in Xonii America for Establishing the Firmest Union, and 
adopting such measures as to them shall appear the most efifectual to 
answer that important purpose and to agree upon proper methods 
for executing the same." 

This is the first action of this nature by any municipal body in anj* 
of the colonies. 

From Records of the Town of Providence. 

Resolutions of the General Assembly of Rhode Island adopted on 
June 15, 1774, appointing Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward (2) 
"to represent the People of this Colony, in a general Congress of 
Representatives from the other Colonies *' * * (5) with annual 
sessions (6) directing ''That the speaker of this House transmit, as 
soon as may be. copies of these Resolutions to the present or late 
Speaker of the respective Houses of Representatives of all the British 
Colonies upon the Continent." 

This was the first action of this nature taken by any of the colonies. 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Captain Wallace, commanding His Majesty^s Ship 
Rose, to Governor of Rhode Island — June 15, 1775 — inquiring if the 
people of Rhode Island were not then "in open Rebellion to your 
lawful Sovereign and the Acts of the British Legislature." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Resolutions of the General Assembly adopted August 17, 1775. 
instructing the delegates from Rhode Island "to use their whole In- 
fluence at the ensuing Congress, for building at the Continental Ex- 
pence a Fleet of sufficient Force for the Protection of these Colonies, 
and for employing them in such manner and Place as will most ef- 
fectually annoy our Enemies and contribute to the common Defence of 
these Colonies: And the}* are also instructed to use all their Influence 
for carrying on the War in the most \igorous Manner, tmtil Peace. 
Liberty, and Safety, be restored and secured to these Colonies upon 
an equitable and permanent Basis." 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION, 75 

Of this Resolution Mr. Bancroft thus writes (History of the United 
States, Vol. IV. page 265, Edition of 1884) : '' On the third of October 
(1775) one of the delegates of Rhode Island laid before Congress 
their instructions of the preceding August to use their whole Influ- 
ence for building, equipping and employing a continental fleet. This 
was the origin of our navy." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Admiral Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island — the first 
Com*mander-in-Chief of the American Navy to the Governor of Rhode 
Island, dated March 8, 1776 — almost three months before the 
Declaration of Independence — detailing account of expedition 
against and capture of New Providence and pther captures and en- 
gagements while in command of the Ship Alfred — on which ship 
John Paul Jones was under his command. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, 
to Governor of Rhode Island, dated April 30, 1776, requesting specie 
to be forwarded to General Schuyler: '^From the distinguished Ardor 
<fe Zeal of the Colony of Rhode Island in the American Cause, I am 
persuaded you will pay all the attention to this Request of Congress, 
which the Importance of it demands." 

From Colonial Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of John Hancock, President of Congress, to General Assem- 
bly of Rhode Island, dated January 31, 1777, requesting that the 
Declaration of Independence be entered on its records: ''As there 
is not a more distinguished Event in the History of America, than the 
Declaration of Independence — nor any, that in all Pn^bability will 
so much excite the Attention of future Ages, it is highly proper, that 
the Memory of that Transaction, together with the Causes that gave 
Rise to it, should be })reserve(l in the most caroful Mannei* tlint can 
be devised." 

From State Records, Ojjicc of Sccnidri/ oj State. 



76 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Joint Resolution of the General Assembly of Rhode Island, passed 
on the same day as the Act repealing allegiance to the King of Great 
Britain (May 4, 1776) electing Stephen Hopkins and William Ellery as 
Delegates to the Continental Congress with instructions ''to consult 
and advise with the Delegates of the said Colonies in Congress upon 
the most proper Measure for promoting and confirming the strictest 
Union and Confederation between the said United Colonies for exert- 
ing their whole Strength and Force to annoy the Common Enemy, 
and to secure to the said Colonies their Rights and Liberties J^oth 
civil and religious whether by entering into Treaties with any Prince, 
State or Potentate or by such other prudent and effectual Ways and 
Means as shall be devised and agreed upon." * * ''You are also 
instructed and directed to exert your utmost Abilities in carrying on 
the just and necessary War in which we are engaged against cruel and 
unnatural Enemies in the most vigorous Manner until Peace shall 
be restored to the said Colonies and their Rights and Liberties se- 
cured upon a solid and permanent Basis." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

The Declaration of Independence, passed May 4, 1776, by the 
General Assembly of Rhode Island, two months before the Declara- 
tion made by the Representatives of the United Colonies in July 
1776, being the first legislative renunciation of allegiance presently 
taking effect enacted by any of the colonies, and creating Rhode 
Island the oldest independent sovereign State in the Western Hemi- 
sphere. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Governor Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut ("Bro- 
ther Jonathan") to the Governor of Rhode Island, dated August 5, 
1777: 

"We cannot Doubt of your Co-operating with us in these Efforts 
as far as the Invaded Circumstances of your State will Admit, and 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 77 

hope with the Blessing of Divine Providence on our arms we may at 
last Support the Cause of Justice against the Mighty." 
From State Records^ Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Governor Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut ('^Bro- 
ther Jonathan ") to the Governor of Rhode Island, dated August 30^ 
1777, proposing union of forces in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and 
Rhode Island for a sudden descent upon British forces at Newport. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from William Ellery — Signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, and Delegate in the Continental Congress — to the Governor 
of Rhode Island, dated Philadelphia, October 11, 1776, detailing 
existing conditions: 

" Genl Washington, as I am told, played off a pretty Manoeuvre 
the other Day. Determined to remove the Grain and the Furniture 
of the Houses from Harlem, he drew out into the Field a Party of 
1,700. The Enemy turned out as many. They approached within 
30 yds and looked at each other; while they were thus opposed 
Front to Front, our Waggons carried off the Grain and Furniture. 
When this was accomplished both Parties retired within their Lines. 
It is said that our Men preserved very good Faces." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Dr. Lewis Ethis De Corny, the French Commissary 
General, to the Governor of Rhode Island, dated June 24, 1780, 
requesting the use of the College building in Providence (Brown 
University) for a Hospital for the French allies in accordance with 
agreement between the Court of France and Benjamin Franlkin. 

Note. — University Hall was so used for several years. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Robert Morris to Governor of Rhode Island, March 
25, 1783, recalling ''all armed Vessels cruizing under Commissions 
from the United States of America." 



78 JAMESTOWX TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Note. — "The Journals of Congress under date of March 24 (1783) mention 
the receipt of a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette, dated February 5, an- 
nouncing a general peace." (Staples "Rhode Island in the Continental Con- 
gress," p. 437.) 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Robert R. Livingston to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated Philadelphia, April 12, 1783, announcing a proclamation for 
the cessation of hostilities with Great Britain. 

''A national character is now to be acquired. I venture to hope 
that it will be worthy of the struggles by which we became a nation." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Patrick Henry to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated February 23, 1786. 

From State Records. Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, to 
Governor of Rhode Island, dated November 13, 1793; ''The Com- 
missioners for settling the accounts between the L^nited States and 
the Individual States having made their final report to the President, 
dated the 29th of June 1793, I am to announce to Your Excellency 
that a balance of Two hundred ninety-nine thousand, Six hundred 
and Eleven Dollars ($299,611) has been reported by the said Com- 
missioners in favour of the State of Rhode Island." 

Fro?7i State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to the General Assembly of Rhode 
Tsland upon his accession to the Presidency — dated May 26, 1801 — 
^'Accept, I beseech you, for the General Assembly of the state of 
Rhode-Island and Providence plantations, the homage of my high 
consideration and respect, and I pray God to have them always in 
his safe and holy keeping." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Le Comte de Rochambeau to the Governor of Rhode 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 79 

Island; dated May 27, 1781, concerning raising a body of five hundred 
men to relieve French allies at Newport: ''Your Excellency will, I 
hope, be persuaded how much I Lament the Loss of your friend & 
Relation, Colonel Green. I had the greatest Esteeme & regard for 
an officer of such Merit." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from General Nathaniel Greene to the Governor of Rhode 
Island, dated October 11, 1776, enclosing list of officers recommended 
for Commissions: 

"I am sensible that America has as good materials to form an Army 
as any State in the World, but Avithout a good set of officers the Troops 
will be little better than a lawless Banditti, or an ungovernable Mob. 
The Americans possess as much natural braA^ery as any People upon 
Earth, but habit must form the Soldier. He who expects men 
brought from the tender scenes of domestic life can meet danger and 
death with a becoming fortitude is a stranger to the Human Heart.'' 

* 'i= 'i' ^^ I know our men are more than equal to theirs and was 
our officers equal to our men we should have nothing to fear from 
the best Troops in the World." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of General Nathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode 
Island, October 16, 1776, concerning officers to whom commissions 
should issue: "The General only wishes to have good men, such as 
will discharge their duty in ever}^ point of view; and maintain the 
Character of Gentlemen; he has no attachment to any Person 
farther than his merit recommends him. Men of merit he wishes to 
be appointed whether in or out of the Army." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. ^ 

Letter of Gen. Nathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode Ish\nd. 
dated March 6, 1777, explaining a prior letter written u])on misinfor- 
mation: 

"If the love of my native i)lace, and zeal for the cause hath led me 



80 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITION. 

to a too hasty animadversion upon Administration, it hath arose 
from a strong desire to correct the Evil before it was rendered in- 
curable." "^ * * ''I receive with peculiar attention 3'our con- 
gratulations and hearty wishes for the success of the American Army. 
I hope if heaven continues to Smile upon us, and the respective States 
furnish their proportion of Men, to exterminate from this land of 
Liberty those hostile invaders of human happiness and the rights 
of Mankind." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Gen. Xathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Valley Forge. February o, 1778, relative to his appointment 
to command in Rhode Island. 

From State Records. Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of General Xathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode Isl- 
and, dated at Harlem Heights, April 17, 1776, giving an account of 
the "Retreat from Long Island, and the Evacuation of Xewj'ork." 

"We made a miserable, disorderly Retreat from Xewyork, owing 
to the disorderly conduct of the Militia who run at the appearance of 
the Enemies Advance Guard" * '^' "and left his Excellency on 
the Ground within Eighty Yards of the Enemy, so vext at the infa- 
mous Conduct of the Troops that he sought Death rather than life." 
"^ * * "I was sick when the army retreated from Long Island, 
which by the bye was the best Effected Retreat I ever heard of, 
considering the difficulty of the Retreat." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of Gen. Xathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Coryells Ferry, December 21, 1776: "By your letter to 
General Washington I find the British Troops have landed on Rhode 
Island — Altho I am sorry my own Country should be subject to their 
ravages yet I rejoice that they are surrounded by a People who are 
united and firmly determined in opposition. You may be Subject 
to a partial Evil, but America cannot fail to reap the Advantage. 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 81 

(Gen. Benedict) Arnold is a fine spirited fellow — and an Active 
General." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Gen. Nathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode 
Island, dated July 15, 1780, concerning co-operation with French 
force at Newport: '^In military operations one thing depends so 
much upon another; and the success of the whole upon the pro\dsion 
of each part, that nothing is more common than for great events to 
depend upon little things. Therefore what may appear a trifling 
consideration often involves important consequences." 

From State Records, Office of the Secretary of State. 

Letter of Gen. Nathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated September 5, 1780, detailing account of defeat of Gen. Gates at 
the Battle of Camden: 

''General Gates retreated 180 miles in three days, to Hillsborough, 
at which place he wrote to Congress of the misfortune that had befell 
him.". * * * ''It is high time for America to raise an army for 
the war, and not distress the Country by short enlistments, and haz- 
zard the liberties of these States with an order of men, whose feelings, 
let their principles be ever so good, cannot be like those who have 
been long in the field." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of General Nathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode 
Island, dated September 22, 1780, accrediting the "Chevalier de la 
Lusurne, the Minister of France who is on his way to visit the French 
Army at Newport." * * * * "His Zeal for our Cause and the 
attachment he has manifested for our interest; entitles him to every 
mark of public respect, and private esteem." 

From State Records, Office of Secretory of State. 

Letter of General Nathanael Greene to Governor of Rhode Island, 
October 2, 1780, giving details of the treason of Benedict Arnold: 



82 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

'' Andree is to be hanged today; the gallows is erected in full view of 
the place where I am writing." '•' * '^'' ''Since the fall of Lucifer 
nothing has equaled the fall of Arnold. His Military reputation in 
Europe and America was flattering to the vanity of the first Generals 
of the age. He will now sink as low as he has been high before; and 
as the devil made war upon heaven after his fall, so I expect Arnold 
will upon America. Should he ever fall into our hands he will be a 
sweet sacrifice.'' 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from Gen. Nathanael Greene to the Governor of Rhode 
Island, dated ''Camp before Camden, April 22, 1781,'' detailing 
necessitous condition of the Continental Army: "Our numbers are 
so reduced by the different actions and skirmishes which have hap- 
pened and by the fatigues and hardships of the service that we have 
but the shadow of an army remaining and this we are obliged to 
divide to push our operations to any effect tho it is attended with 
danger and may prove our ruin." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Joint Address of the General Assembly to General Nathanael 
Greene upon the conclusion of peace — dated December 26, 1783: 

"The Citizens of this State in particular will hold you dear while 
the Tribute of Praise is rendered only to the Claims of Virtue" — and 
reply of General Greene to the foregoing address. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated September 11, 1776: 

"I feel myself much concerned on account of your apprehensions 
for the Town of Newport and the Island of Rhode Island, and should 
esteem myself peculiarly happy were It in my power to afford means 
for their security and that of the State in General, or to point out 
such measures as would be effectual for that purpose." * * * "I 
cannot sufficiently express my thanks for the readiness you and your 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. ■ 83 

Assembly manifested in ordering Troops &c to Long Island on hear- 
ing of my request to Governor Trumbull upon that subject." 
From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
at Harlem, October 12, 1776, concerning qualifications to be required 
in case of commissioned officers. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
at Camp above Trenton Falls, December 21, 1776: 

"The loss of the Island of Rhode Island gives me much concern." 

* * * ''It would give me infinite pleasure if the situation of our 
affairs in this Quarter would allow me to afford you the assistance I 
could wish, but it will not. All in my power to do I have done." 

* * * ''Gen^ Howe's object beyond all doubt, is to possess 
Philadelphia and I heartily wish there was not too much ground for 
some disagreeable apprehensions on that Head, — Without more 
vigorous exertions on the part of the people than what have appeared 
of late, I see but little to prevent him from accomplishing his pur- 
pose." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated Morristown, July 7, 1777, announcing British evacuation of 
New Jersey and warning against attack on Eastern States by Lord 
Howe. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor William Greene of 
Rhode Island, dated at Valley Forge, May 29, 1778, congratulating 
the latter on his election as Governor. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to Governor of l^hodc Island, 



S4 • JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEN.VIAL EXPOSITION. 

dated at Haverstraw — July IS. 177S — and announcing arrival of 
French fleet under Le Comte d'Estaing, and desiring the capture of 
British fleet laden with pro^-isions and probably destined to pass 
through Long Island Sound: 

"Could the whole or any considerable part of this fleet be taken or 
destroyed, it would be a fatal blow to the British army which it is 
supposed at this time have but a small stock of provisions on hand. 
I would therefore beg leave to recommend and urge the Matter to 
your particular consideration as a thing of the utmost importance to 
our cause at this critical conjimcture. from the proper execution of 
which we may desire the most solid advantages." 

From State Records. Ojpce of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
May 11, 1779: "The pecuhar situation of your State and the dis- 
tresses to which it is exposed make me sincerely desirous to afford all 
the aid I can: bat I am persuaded your Excellency would not wish me 
to do it at the risk of the general safety or at the expense of plans in 
which the united interests of these States may be essentially con- 
cerned. Xor am I less confident that the justice of the State will 
not expect more from me than the means put into my hands will per- 
mit. It is a melancholy truth that our collective force is very in- 
competent to the numerous and extensive demands upon it. This 
points out the absolute necessity of v-igorous exertions in the several 
States to make it more adequate: and I doubt not the State of Rhode 
Island will continue to make efi'orts proportioned to its circumstances, 
the danger with which it is threatned. — and the exigencies of the 
PubUc service at large." 

Fro77i State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhoile Island, dated 
May 22. 1779, and detailing critical condition of army and need of 
reinforcements: 

''The situation of our affairs at this period appears to me pecu- 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTEXNIAL EXPOSITION. 85 

liarly critical." ^ ^^^ ^ ''Not far short of one third of our whole 
force must be detached on a service undertaken by the direction of 
Congress, and essential in itself. I shall only say of what remains, 
that when it is compared with the force of the enemy now actually in 
New York and Rhode Island, with the addition of the succours they 
will in all probability receive from England, at the lowest computa- 
tion it will be found to justify very serious apprehensions and to 
demand the zealous attention of the different legislatures." 
From State Records^ Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at West Point, November 23, 1779, extending congratulations 
on evacuation of Rhode Island by the British forces : 

"It is with the utmost satisfaction that I join my congratulations 
with yours on the evacuation of Rhode Island." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State, 

Letter from George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Morristowfi on Christmas Day, 1779, giving notice of issuance 
of a passport ''for an unarmed vessel to proceed to Newport with 
clothing and necessaries for the (British) prisoners at Rutland." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Morristown, March 28, 1780; 

'' I am persuaded of the exertions of your State, and that no means 
which it has will be left untried to forward the views of Congress in 
recruiting the army to its full complement and I would wish your 
Excellency to believe that whatever application is made of the troops 
under my command, can only have the general good for its object." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Morristown, May 23, 1780, announcing expected arrival 
of French fleet and requesting pilots and other assistance to bo pro- 



86 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

vided: ''I have the pleasure to inform Your Excellency in con- 
fidence — that a French fleet may be soon looked for on our Coast, 
The place where they will arrive is not certainly known but they may 
probably come to Rhode Island." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island^ 
dated at Morristown^ May 24, 17S0, accrediting Captain Roche Fon- 
taine as bearer of dispatches to French Admiral: ''Cap'^ Roche Fon- 
taine will be stationed at Saconnet where it will be necessary for him 
to have some boats & pilots under his direction." 

Fro?7i State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island; dated 
at Morristown, May 25. 1780. accrediting the Assistant Director 
of Hospitals in Continental Army to provide hospital accommoda- 
tions in Providence for French allies: '^This I am persuaded they 
will most readily give him from an earnest desire to afford every pos- 
sible comfort & accommodation to the sick of our Good & Great 
ally — who have the strongest claim to our attention and generosity." 

From State Records. Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
at Springfield, June 10, 1780, accrediting M. DeCorny the French 
Commissary General and desiring assistance in procuring supplies 
for French allies: ''Gratitude for so generous a succour and the 
interest of these States unite in requiring this of us — Your Ex- 
cellency's zeal makes it unnecessary^ to suggest motives." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
Jan. 29, 1780: ''The gallant behaviour of Col^ Angell's, on the 23rd 
at Springfield, reflects the highest honor upon the officers and Men. 
They disputed an important pass with so obstinate a bravery that 



J 



JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPCiSITIOX. 87 

they lost upwards of forty in killed — wounded & Missing, before they 
gave up their ground to a vast superiority of force. 

''The ready and ample manner in which your State has complied 
with the requisitions of the Committee of Cooperation, both as to 
Men and Supplies, intitles her to the thanks of the public, and af- 
fords the highest satisfaction to. Sir, 

Your Excellency's Most Ob^ Serv* 
*'G° Washington." 
From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
June 30, 1780, urging necessity for further levies and supplies: 

"The present crisis is by far the most important and delicate that 
this Country has ever experienced, and it pains me in the extreme that 
we are so backward in all our measures." * * * ''Our Allies 
would be chagrined, were they to arrive today, to find that we have 
but a handful of Men in the Field, and would doubt, more than prob- 
able, whether we had any serious intentions to prosecute measures 
with vigor." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Isl- 
and, August, 27, 1780, detailing the needs of the Continental Army: 
"We have not yet been absolutely without Flour, but we have this 
day but one day's Supply in Camp, and I am not certain that there 
is a single Barrel between this and Trenton." * * "From the 
above state of facts it may be foreseen that this Army cannot possibly 
remain much longer together, unless very vigorous and immediate 
measures are taken by the States to comply with the requisitions 
made upon them." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to (lovernor of Rhode Lshuui, dated 
near Passaic, October IS, 1780, detailing critical condition of the 



88 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

army and urging the abandonment of the policy of short term en- 
listments : 

'^In what a cruel and perilous situation did we find ourselves in 
the Winter of 77 at the Valley Forge within a day's march of the 
Enemy, with little more than a third of their strength, unable to de- 
fend our position, or retreat from it for want of the means of trans- 
portation?" * "^ "And what will be our situation this Winter, 
our army by the first of January diminished to little more than a 
sufficient Garrison for West Point?" * "^ "Our officers are in- 
decently defective in clothing^our men are almost naked, totally 
unprepared for the inclemency of the approaching season. We 
have no magazines for the Winter — The mode of procuring our 
supplies is precarious and all the reports of the officers employed in 
collecting them are gloomy." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, dated 
December 10, 1780, concerning certain supplies to be provided at 
Providence. 

Fro7n State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Philadelphia, January 1782, detailing the need of money for 
the pay and clothing of the troops : 

"You cannot conceive the uneasiness which arises from the total 
want of so essential an Article as Money, and the real difficulties in 
which the officers, in particular, are involved on that account." 
* ,* "Enabling the Financier to comply with his Contracts is a 
matter of the utmost consequence — the very existence of the army 
depends upon it." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Philadelphia, January 31, 1782, urging that more troops 
be supplied for the Continental Army. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 89 

^'Althb' the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the 
strong, yet without presumptuously waiting for Miracles to be wrought 
in our favour, it is our indispensable duty, with the deepest gratitude 
to Heaven for the past, & humble confidence in its smiles on our 
future operations, to make use of all the Means in our power for our 
defence & security." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated at Philadelphia, March 5, 1782, desiring him to obtain authority 
to call out the Militia for Continental Service. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated April 27, 1782, detailing action to be taken in the event of 
a return of British forces to Rhode Island : 

''I think it would be highly imprudent on our parts, to leave any 
Fortifications standing on Rhode Island, which may be of any use 
to them on such an Event. — The Works round Newport, can under 
no circumstances be of any advantage to us, and I must therefore re- 
quest your Excellency to cause them to be levelled immediately." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter of George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
dated May 4, 1782, detailing the urgency for further supplies and for 
money for pay and clothing of troops : 

''Being lately informed by the Financier, in answer to some small 
Requisitions upon him that he has not yet received one penny in 
Money from any one State, upon the Requisition of Congress for 
the 8.000.000 Dollars, whilst on the contrary some of the States are 
devising Ways to draw from him the small sums he has been able 
otherwise to establish, and that he is at this Time barely able to feed 
the Army, and that from Hand to Mouth, I cannot forbear to ox- 
press my apprehensions from that Quarter." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 



90 JAMESTO^VX TER-CEXTEXXIAL EXPOSITIOX. 

Letter of George Washington to the Governor of Rhode Island, 
written at Xewburgh, Jinie 18, 1783, on the occasion of resigning 
the command of the Continental Army after the conclusion of peace: 
"I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you, and 
the State over which you preside, in his hoi}" protection, — that he 
should incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of sub- 
ordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly 
affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the 
United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have 
served in the Field- — and. finally, that he would most graciously be 
pleased to dispose us all, to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean 
ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, 
which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed 
Rehgion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these 
things, we can never hope to be a happy Xation." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Address of the officers of Rhode Island Continental Line to the 
General Assembly, February 28, 1784, as to the return of the State's 
colors, and the response of the Assembh^ thereto. 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to the General Assembly upon the 
adoption of the Federal Constitution by Rhode Island — dated No- 
vember 20, 1790: ''It affords me peculiar pleasure to observe that 
the completion of our union, by the accession of your State gives a 
strong assurance of permanent political happiness to the people of 
America." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

Letter from George Washington to the General Assembh' of Rhode 
Island after his retirement from the Presidency — dated April 3, 1797: 

''Yet, without the beneficient interposition of the Supreme Ruler 
of the Universe we could not have reached the distinguished situation 
which we have attained with such unprecedented rapidity. — To him. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 91 

therefore, should we bow with gratitude and reverence; and endeav- 
our to merit a continuance of his special favours. 

''Deeply and gratefully impressed by your affectionate address & 
benevolent wishes, I shall not fail to supplicate the throne of Grace 
that the best of Heaven's blessings may rest upon your State and 
upon yourselves individually." 

From State Records, Office of Secretary of State. 

FROM PROVIDENCE RECORD COMMISSIONERS. 

The Providence Civil Com^pact of 1637. 
*'We whose names are hereunder, desirous to inhabitt in the 
Towne of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active and 
passive obedience to all such orders or agreements as shall be made 
for publick good of y® body in an orderly way, by the major consent 
of the present Inhabitants, maisters of families incorporated together 
into a towne fellowship, and others whome they shall admitt unto 
them only in civill things." 

In these brief lines appears one of the earliest examples of a govern- 
ment founded upon a social contract as distinguished both from the 
theory of the divine right of kings and the passive obedience of sub- 
jects, as well as from the theory that the foundation of government 
rests upon force, which were at that time the prevailing theories of 
government. Here also appears the recognition of the principle 
later elaborated in the Declaration of Independence — that all gov- 
ernments ''derive their just powers from the consent of the gov- 
erned," the right of the majority to rule — and also that .the function 
of government is limited to civil things only and is not concerned 
with matters of religion. 

Petition to the Towne by Roger Williams: "That after you have 
got over y"^ Black Crooke of some Soule Bondage yo^selves you tear 
not downe y® bridge after you by leaving no small i)ittant'e for dis- 
tressed souls y*^ may come after us," etc. 



92 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Prayer to Town by Roger Williams as to fixing place of Town 
Meeting — Payment of Town Officers — That Town re-establish ar- 
bitration, Provide for order in Town Meetings and Consider what 
we ought to do in regard to the reported attempt of Connecticut ''to 
enslave us to their parish worship." 

Instructions to Deputies of Town at General Court of Colony as 
to their course of action in Legislature, signed by Roger Williams, 
Moderator. 16th of 3rd month, 1647. 

A characteristic letter by Roger Williams detailing his experiences, 
wrongs suffered, &c., and giving advice to discordant factions of 
the Town, 1654. 

Letter of advice to Colony, from Sir Harry Vane of which Roger 
Williams was bearer. Feb. 8, 1653. 

Report to Town of efforts to settle estate of Nicholas Power, signed 
by Roger Williams and other members of committee. 1st of the 
10th month, 1657. 

A prayer to Town to provide two fortifications for the security of 
the women and children in the south and north parts of the Town, 

That the Town may "provide some sure way for y® trying of small 
causes 

a Y* ye fggg appointed in this Town to an attorney may be mod- 
erated 

" Y* some speedie course of satisfying for killing a wolfe may be 
appointed 

'*' Y* vexatious and revengeful sueing each other ma}^ be suppressed. '^ 

On reverse "Mr. Roger Williams" subscription and guarantee 
towards building "Town Stocks." 1675. 

Agreement as to interest of Roger Williams et al, in proceeds 
of sale of Indians, captives, signed by Roger Williams and others, 
August 14, 1676. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 93 

Will of Resolved Waterman written by Roger Williams and 
signed by him and other members of the Town Council after the 
death of Resolved Waterman. 27th of 10th month, 1676. 

Minutes of various Town Meetings, including the first one ''held 
under a tree by the water side'' on the return of the inhabitants after 
the destruction of the town by the Indians, made by Roger Williams, 
Town Clerk. 1676 & 7. 

An address by Roger Williams reciting Colonial disputations with 
much adulation of himself and a virulent attack upon William 
Harris, whose action, he says, was ''one great occasion of their (the 
Indians) late burning and slaughtering of us." (viz.: King Philip's 
War) 18th of the 6th month, 1677. 

Letter by Roger Williams concerning Government, Taxes, Moral 
Duties and Obligations, Cost of Colonial Charters, the Comet of 
1681, etc., by " Yor old unworthy Servant R. W." 15th of Jan. 1681. 

Proclamation of the General Assembly, March 10, 1648, upon the 
discovery of a supposed gold mine, to which document is "afixed ye 
Seale of our Colony." 

Act of the General Assembly, Ma}^ 16, 1648, governing debate, 
"That they y* whisper or disturbe y® court or useth nipping terms 
shall forfeit 6d for one fault." Contains design of anchor as the 
Colony Seal. 

Assembly Act of 1648 showing design of anchor as the Colony 
Seal, adopted in 1647. 

FROM RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Original coat-of-arms granted to George Thorold of London, 1632. 
(George Thorold was father of Sir George Thorold, Mayor of London, 
and grandfather of George Thorold wlio tliod in Now York, 1721. 



94 JAMESTOWN TER-CEXTEXMAL EXPOSITIOX. 

An iiulorsemeiit on the document, signed by Ezra Stiles, gives the 
history of the coat-of-arnis.) 

Piece of the original " \\'hat Cheer Rock." Roger Williams's first 
landing-place ill Providence., where he was saluted by the Indians 
with the words. "What Cheer Xetop." 1636. 

Roger Williams' '* Key to the Language of America." London, 1643. 
(A dictionary of the Indian tongue, arranged by topics, written by 
Roger Williams on ship-board on the Atlantic.) 

Samuel Gorton's "Simplicities Defence against a Seven-Headed 
Policy," London, 1647. (Gorton's religious diatribe against the 
Massachusetts rulers.^ 

Letter from Roger Williams to the Town of Providence, April 7, 
1657. (Roger Williams at this time was president of the Colony.) 

Original Indian deed, July 21. 1651. signed with the totem-marks 
of Osamekine (Massasoit\ Wamsutta (Alexander\, Tasomackon 
(King Philip\ 

Original Duplicate Charter (so called") granted to the Colony of 
Rhode Island by King Charles II.. July Sth. 1663. 

This Charter constituted the fundamental law of the Colony and 
of the State for ISO years and until the adoption of the present con- 
stitution of the State in 1S43. being at the time of its abrogation the 
oldest constitutional charter in the world. It conferred upon the 
Colony the choice of Governor and all officers; the right to con- 
clude peace and declare war: the power to enact laws "as near as 
may be agreeable to the laws of this our Realm of England, consider- 
ing the nature and constitution of the place and people there;" and 
absolute religious liberty. For the first time in history, ancient or 
modern, it declared that the State was not concerned with matters of 
conscience: 

"Our royal will and pleasiu-e is that no person within the said 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 95 

Colony at any time hereafter shall be any wise molested; punished, 
disquieted or called in question for any differences in opinion in 
matters of religion." 

Deed of land in Newport signed by Gov. Benedict Arnold, with 
seal attached. (Benedict Arnold was the first Governor of Rhode 
Island, elected in 1663.) 

The original seal which belonged to Gov. Benedict Arnold. (An 
impression of this seal is appended to a deed included in this ex- 
hibit.) 

Deed of land, 1668, signed by Thomas Willett, of Wannamoisett, 
and his wife Mary. (Thomas Willett was the first Mayor of New 
York City, 1665.) 

Roger Williams's ''George Fox Digg'd out of his Burrowe," Bos- 
ton, 1676. (A disputatious work with a punning title.) 

Deed, 1679, signed by John Saffin, of house and lands belonging to 
Thomas Willett. (Possession of these lands was given "with livery 
and seisin by twigg and Turfe.") 

Testimony of Roger Williams as to his first coming into the Nana- 
gansett country, June 18, 1682. 

Orders of a Council of War, Scarborough, Maine, November 14, 
1689.. Signed by Capt. Benjamin Church, Commander-in-Chief. 

Commission of William Wanton as Commander-in-Chief of the 
Brigantine ''Greyhound," Newport, 1703. Signed by Gov. Samuel 
Cranston. 

Barclay's "Apology," Newport, 1729. (The first volume printed 
at Newport, where the press had been established in 1727 by James 
Franklin, brother of Benjamin Franklin.) 



96 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Manuscript Map of Rhode Island, 1741. (The original boundary 
survey drawn in settlement of the dispute between Massachusetts 
and Rhode Island.) 

Proclamation of Governor Stephen Hopkins, proclaiming May 20, 
1756, as a day of fasting and prayer on account of the calamities of 
the Indian border wars. 

Commission granted by George II. to Col. John Andrews as Judge 
of Admiralty in Rhode Island, June 14, 1758. 

The Newport Mercury volume 1, number 1, June 20, 1758. (The 
Mercury, founded by James Franklin, nephew of Benjamin Franklin, 
was the second paper established in Rhode Island. To-day it is 
the oldest newspaper in the country which has had a continuous 
lease of life under the same name. The above is the only known 
copy of the first issue.) 

Commission granted by George III. to Col. John Andrews as Judge 
of Admiralty in Rhode Island, March 22, 1762. 

Printed table showing the depreciation of paper money, Newport, 
1763. Also table of coins in circulation. (£23^^ old tenor" worth 
£1 'lawful money.") 

Redwood Library, catalogue of books, Newport, 1764. (The 
Redwood Library, founded in 1747, was the first library in Rhode 
Island, and one of the first subscription libraries in the country.) 

''The Rights of Colonies Examined," by Stephen Hopkins, Provi- 
dence, 1765. (One of the most influential of the pre-Revolutionary 
pamphlets.) 

Broadside estimate of the valuation, 1768, of the Colony of Rhode 
Island. (Newport the wealthiest town in the Colony, South Kings- 
town next. Providence third.) 



i 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 97 

Providence Library, catalogue of books, 1768. (The Providence 
Library, founded in 1753 and continued to-day as the Providence 
Athenseum, was one of the earUest subscription hbraries in the 
country.) 

"Liberty Tree Discourse," by Silas Downer, Providence, 1768. 

Scheme of a lottery, 1771, to acquire a parsonage for the Presby- 
terian church. $13,134 for prizes; $1,866 for the parsonage. The 
directors leading men of Providence. 

Piece of a timber from the British schooner *'Gaspee." Destroyed 
by the colonists in Narragansett Bay, June 10, 1772. 

'Silver goblet taken from the ''Gaspee " by Commodore Abraham 
Whipple, June 10, 1772. 

Broadside Ballad on the burning of the " Gaspee," June 10, 1772. 

Summons from the royal commissioners, January 18, 1773, com- 
manding Arthur Fenner to testify as to the burning of the " Gaspee." 

Programme of Theses of Rhode Island College (Brown Univer- 
sity). Stephen Hopkins, Chancellor; James Manning, President; 
''Typis Johannis Carter." 1773. 

Rhode Island prox, 1774. Ballot used for colony officers. (The 
term ''prox," as applied to a ticket containing the list of candidates 
for annual election, was peculiar to Rhode Island.) 

Census of the population of Rhode Island, 1774. (Newport twice 
as populous as Providence.) 

''The Association" of October 20, 1774. (The al)ove copy of this 
excessively rare pamphlet contains the original signatures of the 
members of the Continental Congress. On the left-hand ])age are 
the signatures of the Rhode Island members — lloi)kins and Ward — 

13 



98 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

and on the right-hand page those of the Virginia members — Har- 
rison, Lee, Randolph, and Washington.) 

Copy of the Providence Gazette, July 9, 1774, the first newspaper 
in Providence, established 1762. (The King's Arms in the heading 
was discarded May 11, 1776.) 

Military hat worn by the Providence Grenadiers, chartered 1774. 

''New England Primer,'' Providence, 1775. (The first known 
Rhode Island issue of the ''New England Primer.") 

Original broadside act repealing allegiance with Great Britain 
May 4, 1776. ("The first colony to declare her absolute independ- 
ence of the Crown was Rhode Island." Bryant & Gay, iii, 478.) 

Fast-day proclamation of May 6, 1776. (The first broadside 
proclamation in America to close with the words, "God save the 
United Colonies.") 

Military hat worn by a British officer during the American Revo- 
lution. 

Engraving of Commodore Esek Hopkins, the first commodore 
of the American navy. (Published at London, 1776.) 

Act of September 12, 1776, regulating the method of raising the 
battalion of State troops. 

Map of Narragansett Bay, drawn by Charles Blaskowitz, 1777. 
(French reprint of 1780.) 

Continental tax broadsides, 1779-1780. Assessments of £120,000; 
£180,000; £1,000,000. (During the Revolution Rhode Island 
"loaned to the continent more money than all the States south of 
Pennsylvania conibined." Arnold, 2:455.) 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 99 

Letter from Marquis de Lafayette to Col. Christopher Greene, July 
26, 1780. 

San^uel Snow's certificate as a Free Mason, 1780. (St. John's 
Lodge, Providence, 1757.) 

Act of July 1781 ordering a bread supply for the State troops. 

Proclamation of the Continental Congress, April 11, 1783, de- 
claring a cessation of arms. 

Broadside edition of the Treaty of Peace, September 3, 1783, 
printed at Providence. 

Charter of incorporation of Newport as a city. May 31, 1784. 
(Newport was one of the earliest towns in America to receive a city 
charter. This instrument was in operation from 1784 to 1787.) 

Diploma in the Society of the Cincinnati, granted to General 
William Barton, the captor of Prescott. 

Constitution of United Fire Society, Providence, March 2, 1786. 
Colonial paper currency of Rhode Island, 1715-1786. 

Act calling a convention to consider the proposed U. S. Con- 
stitution, January 17, 1790. (Passed after long debate and amid 
great excitement on Sunday, through the casting vote of Governor 
John Collins. The enforced absence of an anti-federalist pastor 
made possible the casting vote.) 

Bill of Rights and Amendments to the Constitution, March 6, 1790. 

Handbill published in Providence, May 31, 1790, aimouncing (hat 
Rhode Island had ratifuMl (lie Constitution. 

Constitution of the Providence Bank, incorporated October, 1791, 
the first bank in Rhode Island, and the fifth bank in the country. 



100 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Map of Rhode Island drawn by Caleb Harris, 1795. (The first 
printed map of the State of Rhode Island.) 

Letter from Martha Washington to four Providence ladies, 'March 
18, 1800, enclosing a lock of George Washington's hair. 

Map of the town of Providence, 1803. (The first map of Provi- 
dence, drawn by Daniel Anthony.) 

Annual Catalogue of Brown University, 1808. (Names are ar- 
ranged alphabetically, instead of according to social rank.) 

Articles of Agreement of the privateer ''Yankee," 1812. (Sailed 
from Bristol, R. I. The most successful of any American priva- 
teers. Made a profit in three years of $1,000,000.) 

Engraving of the Battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, the 
scene of Commodore Perry's victory. 

Specimens of lottery tickets of Rhode Island, 1760-1823. 

Mortgage in form of Indenture from John Clarke, the Colony 
Agent in England, to Richard Deane, dated July 15, 1663, for the 
sum of £130, being expense connected with the obtaining of the 
Royal Charter, of July 8, 1663, being in form a lease of Clarke's es- 
tate in Newport for the term of 1,000 years upon *' the rent of one pep- 
per corne only on the feast of the Nativitie of Saint John Baptist," 
with condition of avoidance upon the payment of the amount due 
''at the now dwelling house of Robert Blackbourne, Notary, scituate 
in Tredneedle Street in London .... between the hours of 
tenn o'clock in the morning and two o'clock in the afternoon " of 
January 17, 1664. This conveyance shows the extreme technicality 
as to the time of payment of a mortgage at that period. 

This debt was later assumed by the Colony as an obligation in- 
curred in its behalf. , 

From Newport Historical Society. 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 101 

FRED A. ARNOLD COLLECTION. 

Autograph signature of James Manning, the first President Rhode 
Island College, later called Brown University. 

Autograph signature of William Ellery, a Rhode Island signer to 
the Declaration of Independence. 

Letters signed by General James Mitchell Varnum and Commodore 
Abraham Whipple. 

Payroll — April 1779 — of Captain Stephen Olney's Company. 
(Captain Olney was the first American Officer to enter the British 
lines at the successful charge at Yorktown. 

Letter from General Nathanael Greene to General George Wash- 
ington. 

Autograph signature of General William Barton, the captor of 
General Prescott. 

Certificate of Newport Marine Society — Engraved by Maverick. 
Signatures of some prominent merchants of Providence. 
Letter of Commodore Hazard Perry, ''Hero of Lake Erie." 

Letter signed by Colonel Silas Talbot, commanding the United 
States ''Constitution," which frigate was built under his su]K^r\isi()n. 

Order of Council of War — June 28, 17S() — empowering Lieut. 
Colonel Samuel Ward to draw $8,000 for the Regiment of Colonel 
Christoplier (Jreene. 

Letter mentioning the building of a l^eacon l^'ire at W'arw ick \(u-k 
to be seen from the upper south window of University Hall. 



102 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 



Two prominent founders of the Town of Bristol — Nathaniel By- 
field and John Walley. 

Original manuscript of twenty-six pages in hand of Stephen 
Arnold, being material furnished to Edward Winslow and used by 
him in his book called ''Hypocrisie Unmasked" in reply to Samuel 
Gorton's book ''Simplicities Defence." 

Letter from Sir Henry Vane, Colonial Governor of New England, 
friend of Roger Williams. (With fine Seal of the Council of State 
under Cromwell.) 

Signatures of prominent early Governors of Rhode Island: 
Walter Clarke, William Greene, 

Richard Ward, Stephen Hopkins, 

Joseph Wanton, Nicholas Cooke, 

Arthur Fenner. 



Autograph letters of prominent Rhode Island Officers of the Revo- 



lution 



General Nathanael Greene, 
Dr. Jonathan Arnold, 
Major Simeon Thayer, 
Captain Coggeshall Olney, 



Colonel Jeremiah Olney, 
General Ezekiel Cornell, 
Col. Christopher Greene, 
Col. Israel Angell. 



Collection of the Autographs of the officers connected with the 
trial of Major Andre: 

Major-General Nathanael Greene, 
Major-General Lord Stirling, 
Major-General Arthur St. Clair, 
Major-General Marquis Lafayette, 
Major-General Robert Howe, 
Major-General Baron Steuben, 
Brigadier-General Samuel H. Parsons, 
Brigadier-General Henry Knox, 



I 



I 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 103 

Brigadier-General John Glover, 
Brigadier-General John Patterson, 
Brigadier-General Edward Head, 
Brigadier-General Jed. Huntington, 
Brigadier-General John Stark, 
Judge Advocate John Lawrence, 
Alexander Scammell, 
Richard Vareck. 

RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

Present appearance of Rock on which Roger Williams landed in 
1636. 

Present appearance of residence of Stephen Hopkins, Providence, 
signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

Present appearance of the residence of Admiral Esek Hopkins, 
first Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy — Providence. 

Bed Chamber in house of Admiral Hopkins — Providence. 

Old Well — House of Admiral Hopkins — Providence. 

Interior — House of Admiral Hopkins — Providence. 

View of Providence from Smith's Hill in 1827. 

View of the Arcade between Westminster and Wcybosset Streets, 
Providence, taken from an old print. 

Old View of Hamilton Building — Providence. 

Old City Hotel — Providence. 

First Light Infantry Regiment on Weybosset Street, corner of 
Mathewson — Providence — 1S69. 



104 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

Old View of ''Cheapside" — Providence. 

Former appearance of Howard Block — Providence. 

Young's Tea Store, formerly standing at foot of College Hill — 
Providence. 

Richmond Street Brewery — Providence — 1866. 

Harris House, the first house on Broadway — Providence. 

Former appearance of the Cove and Railroad Station — Providence. 

Former appearance of Waterman House, corner of Weybosset and 
Union Streets — Providence. 

Old Governor Fenner House, Governor Street, Providence. 

Former appearance of Smith's Hill — Providence. 

Former appearance of North Main Street, near Market Square, 
Providence. 

Present appearance of the Building of the Rhode Island Historical 
Society — Providence. 

Present appearance of the Library Building of Brown University, 
with the Building of the Historical Society on the right — Providence. 

Carrie Tower on Campus of Brown University — Providence. 

APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES. 

The total appropriation for the expenses incurred by the Com- 
mission of Inquiry appointed under joint resolution passed April 
21, 1905, and for the expenses of this Commission, was $45,000, 
being less than the amount provided for participation in the World's 
Columbian Exposition ($77,500) and the Louisiana Purchase Ex- 



JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 105 

position ($65,000), and greater than that appropriated for par- 
ticipation in the Pan-American Exposition ($20,000). 

A summary of the expenditures made during the past three years 
is herewith presented: 

State building, and architect's fees on same $10,592 27 

Salary of Executive Commissioner 6,170 76 

Historical exhibit and maintenance 5,281 48 

Rhode Island Day and Week 4,711 55 

Care and maintenance and house expenses, State building 3,978 39 

Furnishing State building 3,052 63 

Traveling expenses of Commission and Executive Commissioner. .... 2,730 03 

Official representation at opening of exposition 2,405 06 

Freight 401 46 

Insurance 326 30 

Grading and seeding lot, architect's fees, old commission, broker's and 

counsel fees 980 00 

Office expenses 874 47 

Unexpended balance of requisitions on State Auditor returned to 

State Treasurer 466 1 1 



$41,970 51 
This apparent expenditure should be reduced by $466.11, the last item, making 
the same, $41,504.40. 

Amount appropriated $45,000 00 

Amount expended 41,970 51 

Unexpended balance $3,029 49 

In addition to i\ui above unexpended balance of $3,029.49 there 
have been paid into the State treasury, the following sums; 

Received for the sale of the building $2,000 00 

Received for the sale of the furnishings 735 81 

Miscellaneous receipts 72 82 

.\bove-named sum of 4()6 II 

Total $3,274 71 

14 



106 JAMESTOWN TER-CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 

In addition there are now installed in i,he State house the historical 
exhibit and cases containing it, flags and portraits, valued at cost 
to the State, amounting to $3,869 78 



Making a total of cash unexpended and paid into the treasury, and 

State's property, as above, of $10,174 01 

JOHN TAGGARD BLODGETT, 
WILLIAM PAINE SHEFFIELD, 
DENNIS H. SHEAHAN, 
JOSEPH P. BURLINGAME, 
GEORGE BATCHELOR. 
Providence, April 21, 1908. 



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I 



